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KINGSTON — Chairman of the Broadcasting Commission, Professor Hopeton Dunn, says the agency is recommending a range of fines, with a maximum $15 million, on persons found guilty of engaging in the illicit practice of payola.  Payola is defined as the practice of paying bribes, particularly to radio personalities, for airplay to the recordings of unknown artistes, as a means...

KINGSTON — Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Senator Arthur Williams, announced Tuesday June 21 that a ceremony will be held at Jamaica House on Friday June 24, for the signing of an agreement between the Government and public sector unions who have accepted its pay offer. The United District Constables Association (UDCA) became...

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister, the Hon.  Bruce Golding, during his recent visit to Washington DC, met with several members of the powerful United States (US) Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill, where he discussed areas for collaboration, while highlighting a number of positive things that are happening in the country. Among the areas for partnership, cited by the Prime...

Some 97 per cent of building applications were approved during 2010/2011, through the simplification of the process and reduced approval timeline. The 97 per cent represents a six-per cent increase in the approval of planning/building applications, compared to 2009/2010. Of the 5,877 planning/building applications approved during the period, 5,706 were processed within the 90-day target period. This was disclosed by...

KINGSTON — Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) with responsibility for Local Government Reform, Hon Robert Montague, says that property tax collections are already in excess of $1 billion for 2011/2012. This has resulted from the Government instituting measures to improve property tax collection, as part of the revenue collection process. “It means that our...

KINGSTON — Several pieces of land surveying equipment were presented to the Government and the University of Technology (UTech), at a ceremony at the Department of Local Government, Kingston on Tuesday June 14. Five total stations were donated to UTech and two total stations and a Global Positioning System (GPS) station were handed over to the Government by the Korea...

KINGSTON — Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, Christopher Zacca says the United States government has sent a clear signal that it views Jamaica as a very valuable and highly respected partner in the Western Hemisphere. In an interview with JIS News, yesterday, Mr.  Zacca said Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s visit to the United States last week, where he held...

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding has emphasised the need for multilateral financial institutions to create a special regime for indebted middle income countries. Addressing a high powered team of United States Senators at a special meeting called in his honour on Capitol Hill, on June 9, the Prime Minister said it is a long-standing concern of the...

WASHINGTON D.C — Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding, says there is an urgent need for the United States and the Caribbean to re-engage in discussions relating to trade and development within the region. “When I speak about the Caribbean, I speak especially about the CARICOM Caribbean, as we are a peculiar group of countries and people that have particular...

KINGSTON — Cabinet has approved the introduction of the Custos Rotulorum Bill in the Houses of Parliament, which will establish a legal framework for the operation of the island’s custodies. This was disclosed by Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, on Wednesday June 8 post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. Mr. Vaz said this...

KINGSTON — Cabinet has approved the extension of the advertising and public relations contracts of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), until January 31, 2012. They have been extended to Ruder Finn Inc; McCluskey International Limited; and DraftFCB. Speaking at yesterday’s (June 8) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz...

June 7: Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Executive Director, Richard Bernal (2nd left) welcomes Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, as he arrives at the IDB art gallery in Washington DC, to officially open an art exhibition featuring the works of nine Jamaican artists.  Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks (right); Permanent Secretary in the Office of the...