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The Steering Committee for the Best Community Competition and Programme (BCCP) is seeking judges for the competition. Judging is expected to begin next month. Chairperson of the BCCP Steering Committee, Miss Jacqueline daCosta, told JIS News that at least 250 judges are required. "We need volunteer judges because we now have 222 communities. Some judges will go to two communities,...

Caribbean disaster response organizations are proposing that a Caribbean tsunami warning system be put in place. This update was provided to Prime Minister Bruce Golding during a meeting with heads of emergency response organizations at Jamaica House today (March 3). Director General of the Office of Disaster Response and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Ronald Jackson, told the Prime Minister that the...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has instructed the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), to prepare a report on the nation's earthquake response readiness for submission to Cabinet. The report is to contain a situation analysis and a response evaluation of the responsible agencies. It is also to note how critical agencies are going to be networked after an...

Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, has defended the Government's decision not to proceed with the United States' (US) request for the extradition of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, noting that evidence presented against Coke was obtained in violation of Jamaican law. In responding to the US Narcotics Control Strategy Report for 2009 in Parliament yesterday (March 3), which makes prominent reference...

The Government has assured United States (U.S.) authorities of its full support in extradition and other matters, consistent with its obligations and upholding Jamaican law, Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding told the House of Representatives, Tuesday (March 2). "We have assured the U.S. authorities of our full support in all extraditions, and other matters consistent with our obligations under...

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has warned persons using the Spur Tree road, Manchester, to dispose of their garbage, that they will face prosecution under the Anti Litter Act. The warning came from Public Cleansing Officer attached to the NSWMA, Joan Blake, as she addressed the monthly joint meeting of the Swaby's Citizen's Association at the Swaby's Hope...

More than 250 civil servants will on Wednesday (March 3) participate in a customer service and training workshop organised by the Cabinet Office. The one-day workshop, which aims at improving customer service delivery among public sector entities, will be held at the Jamaica Conference Centre under the theme: 'The Principle and Practices of Direct Customer Interface'. Speaking in an interview...

The Management Institute for National Development (MIND) and the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to build capacity in the public sector. The MoU, for an industrial relations training course, was signed today (March 1), by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MIND, Mrs. Ruby Brown, and President of the JCSA, Mr. Wayne Jones, at...

City Life Ministries based in South Side, Central Kingston has been serving the needs of, and providing opportunities of hope for citizens living in the wider inner-city communities of Kingston for the past five years. Pastor and Executive Director of City Life Ministries, Carrington Morgan explains that "Wherever the people gather in a concentrated way we find the pulse of...

Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, has sent a message to President Michelle Bachelet of Chile on the loss of lives and destruction caused by the severe earthquake that hit central Chile early this morning.The death toll, not yet known, is reported to have already exceeded 150. The damage to buildings and infrastructure is extensive. The Prime Minister said he was especially...

Public sector unions "absolutely welcome" Government's drive to transform the public sector, and are not putting up any resistance to it, in principle, as some public sector workers are not satisfied that the present system is facilitating their optimum efficiency. This was the view expressed by the President of the Jamaica Civil Service Association and General Secretary of the Jamaica...

Jamaican planning and engineering professionals have offered the use of national codes and processes to the government of Haiti as part of institutional strengthening in that country's rebuilding efforts. The Jamaican Institution of Engineers has made the Jamaican Building Code available and the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) has also offered their development application and approval procedures. The Minister...