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Jamaicans may soon see a lowering of rates on both local and international calls. This is as a result of the passing of the Telecommunications (Amendment) Act 2012 on Tuesday (May 1) by the House of Representatives. The legislation grants the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) power to set interim rates for wholesale and retail services where there is a...

Cabinet has approved the formation of the Jamaica Gas Trust (JGT), which will be the Special Purpose Vehicle that executes the major commercial agreements under the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project. These include the agreements for LNG Sale & Purchase, Terminal Use, Gas Sales, and Pipeline Transportation. The Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, in a press statement on...

The PetroCaribe Development Fund (PCDF) and Wigton Windfarm Limited (Wigton) will be investing several million dollars in funding and training as part of a renewable energy initiative at the Munro College in St. Elizabeth. The initiative will see the PetroCaribe Development Fund investing approximately $7.7 million to rehabilitate the school’s 225 kilowatts (kW) wind turbine while Wigton will assist the...

With the onset of the digital age and the ability for information, material and products to cross boundaries at the speed of light, increasing the difficulty to misuse  brands within the global marketplace, through Intellectual Property (IP) rights, remains critical. This was stated by Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM), Hon. Julian Robinson,...

The continued rise in the cost of oil on the international market has triggered increases in the cost of locally produced energy, which has had a negative ‘domino’ effect on Jamaica’s development, the economy and the people’s way of life. With this in mind, the country’s newly elected Government has embarked on an almost ‘evangelical’ mission to find ways to...

Transformation of the energy sector, to bring more players into the industry so as to achieve greater efficiencies and reduce costs to consumers, was the key focus of the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM), Phillip Paulwell, during the first 100 days of his stewardship. The Minister, recognising that Jamaicans are burdened by the high energy prices, said...

Implementation of an appropriate energy policy has been given great urgency, with the bi-partisan and stakeholder-involved Jamaica Energy Council (JEC) having its first meeting, on April 20, at Jamaica House. The Council, which is chaired by Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM), Hon. Phillip Paulwell, with Opposition Energy Spokesman, Gregory Mair, as his deputy, seeks to facilitate consultation...

Come May 1, consumers will be able to apply for a net billing licence from the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) and the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell,has announced. Speaking at the opening of the Jamaica Power Summit 2012 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston today(April 19), Mr. Paulwell...

The government, in the next two weeks, will launch its energy efficiency and conservation programme, aimed at saving more that $2 billion per year in energy costs. This was announced by Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell on April 19, 2012 as he addressed the opening of the Jamaica Power Summit 2012 at the Jamaica Pegasus...

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM), Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says the Government will seek to keep its promise of removing the General Consumption Tax (GCT) on electricity. “The government is about to propose a budget for the new financial year and revenue measures are to be contemplated and decided on at that time. There is a commitment that...

Government has identified funding for the digital switchover study, which is slated to get underway this month. Minister with responsibility for Information, Hon. Sandrea Falconer, made the disclosure on April 4, during the national digital switchover steering committee meeting at Jamaica House. The comprehensive study, to be undertaken by the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ), will determine requirements for ensuring...

Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington, says the police are looking at utilising ‘shot spotter’ technology to assist with investigating gun-related incidents and crimes. “We have started discussions with the Minister of National Security (Peter Bunting) about the deployment of ‘shot spotter’ technology in some of our crime hotspots and in some of areas that are plagued by criminal gang violence,”...