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The busy Portmore Parkway in St. Catherine has been renamed George Lee Boulevard, in honour of the first mayor of the municipality. Councillors turned out in their numbers for the recent occasion, which was preceded by a civic ceremony at the Lion's Civic Centre, to pay tribute to Mr. Lee for his stewardship and pioneering work in the formation of...

Jamaica is expected to host the next meeting of the executive committee of the Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas (COPA), which unites democratic Parliaments in the Americas. This has been confirmed by Jamaica's representative on COPA's executive committee, Othneil Lawrence, the Member of Parliament (MP) for North West St. Ann, who returned home recently from the meeting of the committee...

The Cabinet today, in addition to regular agenda items, continued intense deliberations on issues related to the 2009-2010 Budget. These include the global economic crisis, its negative impact on the island and the steps that must be taken to deal with the challenges. In the discussions, Cabinet took note of the worsening international situation as reflected in last weekend's report...

Cabinet has issued drafting instructions for the proposed Whistleblower legislation, which will facilitate the disclosure of information about wrong-doing to the relevant authorities, and provide for the protection of persons making those disclosures. Addressing this week's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, underscored the importance of provisions being made to include...

The Parliament of Jamaica will be observing Commonwealth Day, on Monday, March 9, at the Medallion Hall Hotel, in Kingston, beginning at 10:00 a.m., under the theme: 'The Commonwealth at sixty, serving a new generation'. This year's activities will see students from two schools highlighting the theme by depicting, through drama, the 60 years of the Commonwealth, with specific attention...

Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State and Parliamentary Secretaries going on official trips abroad, will have to seek approval from the Prime Minister at least seven days before their intended departure. The requests for approval must include information on: purpose of travel; duration of travel; other members of the delegation; and the cost of the trip. Approval for Members of Parliament...

Dr. Richard Bernal, alternate executive director of the Inter-American Development Bank(IDB) in Washington, will be the main speaker when the 3-day pre-budget cabinet retreat resumes at Jamaica House, today(Saturday). According to Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, Dr. Bernal will speak to the cabinet on the shape and future of the global economic and financial infrastructure. Dr....

The Cabinet heard an overview of Jamaica's macro-economic situation, when it opened its three-day retreat leading up to the formulation of the 2009/2010 budget, at Jamaica House, Friday(Feb 20). Director of the Planning Institute of Jamaica(PIOJ), Dr. Wesley Hughes, gave the overview which looked at the internal and external environment, as well as an analysis of sectoral performances. The Ministry...

The Cabinet goes into retreat today(Friday/Feb 20) as it continues the process of preparing the 2009/2010 budget. The three-day retreat will continue next week Saturday, Feburary 28, and will be completed on Sunday, March 1. Today's opening session will focus on issues related to the economy, the impact of the global environment on Jamaica and the 2009-2010 fiscalprogramme. On February...

Parliament resumed discussions on flexible working time in Jamaica, when a Joint Select Committee(JSC), chaired by Minister of Labour and Social Security, the Hon. Pearnel Charles, had its first meeting at Gordon House, today. "It is apparent that because of what is happening globally now, the international financial and economic crisis, the whole question of flexi work time at the...

His Majesty, King Juan Carlos I, of Spain, has said that since the end of the 1990s, the Spanish private sector has spearheaded an impressive investment process on the island, resulting in Spain being one of the leading foreign investors in Jamaica. "The high level planned investments will not only contribute to modernising and energising the Jamaican economy, particularly its...

Thank you all for the great honour and kindness you have shown by inviting me to address the representatives of the people in a joint session of the two Houses of the Jamaican Parliament, on the occasion of the first State Visit to this beautiful country by the Queen and myself. I should like to begin my address by paying...