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Diplomats are being briefed on government's plans to deepen relations with trading partners and to expand into regional and international markets, during meetings with key Ministers this week. The meetings are part of Diplomatic Week activities from January 24 to 29. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh, told JIS News that...

The St. Mary Parish Council has been activating its parish disaster plan to accommodate Haitians who might seek refuge in the parish, in the wake of the devastation caused by an earthquake in that country on January 12. Secretary/Manager of the St. Mary Parish Council, Miss Ethlyn Douglas, told JIS News that the plan was discussed fully at a recent...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding will lead a delegation to Beijing, China from Saturday, January 30 - Saturday, February 6, for a series of high level meetings that will cover energy, bauxite and major investments. The visit has been made possible through an invitation from the Chinese government following a visit here last February by the Vice President of the People's...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding says that there will be better monitoring of property taxes next year so that property owners can be more accountable. He was responding to a caller on his monthly radio programme, Jamaica House Live last night (January 27). The caller was concerned about how verges for private properties are maintained. "People must keep their places clean....

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has emphasized that the wage freeze for government workers will give the government some time to mend the economy. He was responding to a caller on his programme, Jamaica House Live last night (January 27). "When we speak about a wage freeze, we are talking about government workers, who we are responsible for. ..In the two...

The Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) is to float a $1.6-billion bond, to finance construction of some 200-thousand square feet. of ICT factory space. This was announced in Parliament Tuesday (January 27) by the Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon Karl Samuda, as he outlined a programme to create jobs and boost production, through the expansion of the small...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding heaped praise on the visionaries who made the Cuban-sponsored eye care clinic a reality and which was officially opened today (January 27) at St. Joseph's Hospital in Kingston. Mr. Golding said that the clinic is an example of how developing nations can bring first class projects together. "We may not be admitted into the first world,...

Scientific research conducted at the Port Royal Marine Laboratory and University of the West Indies/Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (UWI/EFJ) Biodiversity Centre could aid in the fight against deadly diseases and eventually save human life, said UWI Mona Principal, Professor Gordon Shirley. He argued that support for the facility is critical as research coming out of the Marine Lab has benefited...

The Government will be amending legislation to ensure that only accompanied baggage benefit from the passenger declaration system, which allows for the importation of up to US$500 worth of goods (personal effects), without duty. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, said this has become necessary as the current system, which gives duty concession on both accompanied...

The need for governments, particularly in the Caribbean and Africa, to develop policies that will counter the impact of the global economic downturn, and climate change, on young people in these regions, has been emphasised by Assistant Director General for Social and Human Sciences at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Mr. Pierre San

Plans for the implementation of a US$100 million Kingston Sewerage Development Project is on track with international engineering consultancy firm Nippon Koei Limited, undertaking preparatory survey for the project. The survey work, which started in July 2009, will continue until September, during which loan approval is expected to be given. The project, which is being funded by the Government of...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding says government's macro economic programme requires a freeze on the public sector wage bill. "The amount of wages is not something that we can go around having discussions and negotiations about. The Government has to determine in its macro economic programme what is possible for wages." Prime Minister Golding said that the wage bill has been...