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KINGSTON — For many Jamaicans just the thought of lowering their electricity bill is enough to bring on a broad smile. Now imagine having the ability to not only pay zero on your electricity bill, but also be able to sell excess energy back to the public electricity grid! Government recently announced a successful renegotiation of some the terms of...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Hon. Gregory Mair, has expressed concerns over the proliferation of mass media and technology that are exposing children to information outside the control of their parents.  Mr. Mair, who was delivering the main address at the 2011 National Parents Awards ceremony, held at the RIU Hotel and Resorts, in...

KINGSTON — Deputy Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Everton McFarlane, says the agency will be placing greater focus on enhancing the country's science and technology policy framework. The move, he contends, is within the context of Jamaica's Growth Inducement Strategy, development and implementation of which is being led by the PIOJ. The strategy aims to improve the rate...

KINGSTON — Minister of Energy, Hon Clive Mullings, says he is not happy with the current take-up level of renewable energy devices in the country. Speaking with JIS News, Minister Mullings said that, against the background of high energy costs, the availability of lower interest rates at financial institutions and increased accessibility to financing for renewable devices, the take-up of...

MONTEGO BAY — A Photovoltaic electric power generating system (Solar) was officially commissioned at the Hounslow Research and Demonstration Plot, in St. Elizabeth, on November 11, by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague. The Minister pointed out that the system, which belongs to the National Irrigation Commission (NIC), is a stand-alone solar system which has the capacity to...

KINGSTON — Senior Director of Energy in the Ministry of Energy and Mining, Fitzroy Vidal,   has informed that the Ministry is currently working on a national electricity policy. Speaking at a panel discussion on Jamaica's energy future, held on November 10, at the University of Technology (UTech), Mr. Vidal said the policy would be categorised as the sixth sub policy...

KINGSTON — The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) has commenced a series of energy audits, which will involve some 140 primary schools islandwide, Group Managing Director, Dr. Mario Anderson, has informed He made the disclosure while addressing Thursday's (November 10) inaugural Dr. Raymond Wright Memorial Lecture, at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), in St....

KINGSTON — As Government's efforts to secure increased investments in Information Communication Technology (ICT) begins to bear fruit, special envoy with responsibility for ICT in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Ambassador Patrick Casserly, said that a "very large player" will be coming to the island soon. He said that others are in line to visit and explore investment...

KINGSTON — Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mining, Hillary Alexander, says there is need to implement provisions of Jamaica's energy policy to address challenges, including high costs. Speaking at the inaugural Dr, Raymond Wright Memorial Lecture at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), on Thursday (November 10), Ms. Alexander noted that the...

KINGSTON — Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon Olivia Grange, says that she is very excited about the prospects of the newly launched youth-focused website, www.youthjamaica.com, helping young Jamaicans to find jobs. “Through the job search engine, young people will be able to post their résumés to potential employers and search through a database of openings. I am...

KINGSTON — Members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have joined forces in an attempt to bolster energy conservation and awareness efforts throughout the region, with its first staging of the annual Caricom Energy Week (CEW). The brainchild of the CARICOM Secretariat, the initiative was launched on November 3 in Jamaica under the theme: ‘Energy Security for a Sustainable Future’, and...

KINGSTON — Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon. Clive Mullings, says that Jamaica will benefit from a US$90 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), to improve energy efficiencies within the public sector. Mr. Mullings said that, in the first instance, an initial US$20 million drawdown will cover institutional strengthening, energy efficiency and conservation. The areas being considered include...