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KINGSTON — Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica, Dr. Gladstone Hutchinson has said that the agency is leading the charge in formulating policy on social issues for the 60 years and older population, and ensuring that structural changes are integrated in all national policies, plans, and programmes. This is critical, as statistics indicate that there is an increasing...

MIAMI — Entries are now being accepted for the 11th staging of the Independence essay competition organised by the Jamaica Information Service's (JIS) Miami office.  The annual competition forms part of activities to mark Emancipation and Independence celebrations in Jamaican communities in Florida. It is open to all first and second generation Jamaican children, five to 18 years old, who...

KINGSTON — Prime Minister Bruce Golding has challenged public sector workers to help to accelerate the projections of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and to assist in improving the labour productivity of the country. Speaking at the Signing of the public sector wage agreement between the Government and public sector groups at Jamaica House on July 7, the Prime Minister said, “the...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has named Attorney-at-Law Ransford Braham as the new Attorney General who will serve in the position with that office separated from the Ministerial portfolio of Justice. Explaining the decision to separate the responsibilities, Prime Minister Golding said he had done so based on the very strong recommendations of the recently concluded Manatt Commission of Enquiry. He pointed out that the Attorney General does not...

KINGSTON — Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz says he is pleased that the Government and Trade Unions representing public sector workers have finalised an agreement on the long-standing wage issue. “This has been a long protracted negotiation and now that it is completed, it will give a level of stability in terms of...

KINGSTON — Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, is to name the country's new Attorney-General this week. Mr. Golding said that he has selected a candidate from the private bar, who has accepted the job offer.  “I expect to be able to make an announcement later this week about the appointment and also about the effective date when that person...

KINGSTON — The recently launched vital statistics manual will ensure greater accuracy and reliability of data collected by the island's civil registry and statistical agencies to better plan for the country's future and enable international bodies to more accurately measure Jamaica’s progress. “The data is critical for us as a country to assess our own progress. It is used by...

KINGSTON — The Voice of Jamaica, the flagship monthly newspaper publication of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), has doubled its circulation from 40,000 copies to 80,000 this month. The publication, which was launched in January 2009, began as a monthly supplement in the Observer, which was inserted on the last Wednesday each month. It highlights the work of public sector...

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) — In a rallying speech aimed directly at the people of the Caribbean, Amb. Lolita Applewhaite, acting Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), on Thursday evening exhorted them to embrace and nurture the regional integration movement. At the Opening Ceremony of the Thirty-Second Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM at...

KINGSTON — Cabinet has approved toll increases for the Kingston to Spanish Town, and Portmore legs of Highway 2000, effective July 9. For Kingston to Spanish Town, the fee for class one vehicles remains at $80, while class two will go from $110 to $120, and class three will move from $210 to $230. Meanwhile, motorists using the Portmore leg...

Diplomatic strategies to enhance Jamaica’s development process were discussed at a meeting between Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding and Heads of Missions, at Jamaica House, on May 28. Addressing the diplomats, the Prime Minister thanked them for effectively representing their country and encouraged them to increase dialogue with non-traditional partners in an attempt to diversify the country’s foreign relations....

KINGSTON — Minister with Responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, has indicated that Solicitor General, Douglas Leys, will continue to advise the Government until a new Attorney General is appointed. Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, in naming a new Cabinet yesterday June 28, said the position of Attorney-General will be separated from that of Minister...