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The Joint Select Committee appointed to review the Access to Information Act has recommended that the Official Secrets Act be repealed and that the Access to Information (ATI) Unit become a statutory body. Information Minister, Daryl Vaz tabled the report of the Committee on April 14 in the House of Representatives. He said the ATI Unit must be empowered to...

KINGSTON — Head of the Economics and Social Development Section, Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Jamaica, Helen Jenkinson says the entity is to undertake an evaluation of the recently concluded EU-funded Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in Jamaica. The PSDP was a €26.17 million five-year joint initiative, established in 2004 between the Government of Jamaica and the EU,...

KINGSTON — Government and private sector agencies are being urged to maintain proper records as a key part of the process of national development. Government Archivist at the Jamaica Archives and Records Department (JARD), Claudette Thomas, said good records management is an ordinary and essential component of a business operation and is intertwined with increased transparency, accountability and good governance....

PORT ANTONIO — Members of 4-H clubs in St. Mary displayed their many talents at the annual St. Mary 4-H Achievement Day, held at the Llanrunmey Estate near Port Maria, on April 7, under the theme: ‘Value added agriculture for youth transformation’. The event featured various projects prepared by the various clubs, the staging of competitive events among the clubs,...

KINGSTON — The 70,000-strong Jamaica 4-H Movement is looking to increase its membership by 10,000 over the next three years as it seeks to reach more of the country’s young people. “We have empowered 70,000 clubbites island wide over the last 70 years, and we are aiming at 100,000 clubbites within the next three years,” said 4-H Public Relations and...

As of Thursday April 14 the ad valorem tax on fuel will be reduced from 15% to 10%.  This will result in lowering of petrol prices at the pump of between $4 and $5 per litre. This temporary measure is to cushion the impact of rising oil prices on the world market on local consumers, and will be reviewed on...

Jamaica has put in place administrative arrangements with the Honorary Consul of Jamaica in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, that will simplify the issuing of multiple-entry visas. Cabinet last month noted that the Honorary Cousul is now authorised to issue multiple-entry visas valid for six months to bona fide business persons from Haiti. The previous process required approval from the Ministry of National Security. The announcement was...

KINGSTON — Beneficiaries under the Land Administration and Management Programme (LAMP) are being urged to make timely payment of fees for services rendered in the processing of property titles.    Acting Project Director, Lisa Campbell, said that while LAMP has never “depended on money” to carry out its work, the programme faces financial constraints, and needs to recover the costs...

KINGSTON — The National Laboratory Services' capacity to ensure the safety of blood supply has been boosted with Cabinet approving a $54,529,381 (US$635,837) contract to a Florida-based company for the supply of reagents. Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, who made the disclosure at April 6 post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, said that...

KINGSTON — A Ministerial Committee, to review the recommendations of the report of the National Commission on Ganja, has been established by Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding. Speaking at April 6 post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, informed that the committee will be chaired by Deputy Prime...

KINGSTON — Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding, faced his final day of cross-examination on Friday (April 1), as the curtain started descending on the Commission of Enquiry into the extradition of Christopher Coke, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston. Cross examined by attorney-at-law, Patrick Atkinson, representing former National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, the Prime Minister said that...

PORT ANTONIO – Four-H clubbites from schools and community groups across St. Mary will come together to show off their skills in a number of competitive areas, at the annual Parish Achievement Day slated for Thursday, April 7 at the Llandromney Estate near Port Maria. All 69 clubs in the parish are expected to participate in the day’s activities, which...