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Jamaica formally offered 19 offshore and four onshore blocks for licensing for oil and gas exploration, at the launch of the Second Round bid, yesterday (March 1), in London. Jamaican officials are confident that with new seismic data showing very positive prospects, the country could, in the long term, become one of the region's top oil producers. Minister of State...

Jamaica opened the second formal licensing bid round for oil and gas exploration, with a seminar in London that publicised new seismic data which indicate very positive geological prospects for oil and gas found both on and offshore. The seminar was held at the Geological Society of London, under the theme, 'New Prospects, New Opportunities'. Minister of State in the...

The Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) Cultural Center and Education Division is inviting all Latin American and Caribbean artists to submit their artistic work for a contest that seeks to explore, stimulate, and propose creative and artistic alternatives in the natural sciences and mathematics. Through the hands and eyes of the region's artists, the Bank hopes to bring attention to mathematics...

Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding, says that cyber crime has become a serious problem in Jamaica, which has to be addressed. "We are particularly familiar with the lotto scam in Montego Bay. It is not just the crime and the fraud that is committed, it is the murder to which it gives rise," Mr. Golding stated as he piloted the...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, has defended his recent decision to suspend the licences of two major players in the scrap metal industry after it was suspected that they were involved in illegal practices. The Minister said the licences of the two companies, St. Catherine Metal Recyclers Ltd. and Kingston Scrap Metal will remain suspended until...

The Office of the Children's Advocate (OCA) today (February 4), launched its website, www.ocajamaica.com, which will serve as an additional public education and advocacy tool. Speaking at the launch, which was held at the Institute of Jamaica, in downtown, Kingston, Children's Advocate, Mrs. Mary Clarke, explained that the website, designed and constructed with funding and technical assistance from the United...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Major Richard Reece, has charged graduates of a course under the Community Security Initiative (CSI) to "prove to the world that all you needed was an opportunity to succeed". He told the 28 graduates during a ceremony, Thursday (January 28), at the Excelsior Community College, where the computer repairs course was delivered,...

Minister of State for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern, has commended the Jamaica Customs Department for working closely with the Ministry, in cleaning up the local scrap metal trade. Speaking at a stakeholders' symposium, hosted by Customs at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston on Wednesday (January 27), Mr. Stern said that the Ministry will continue to support...

The Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund handed $1.8 million worth of furniture over to the Early Childhood Institute computer lab at Shortwood Teachers' College in Kingston, on Thursday (January 14), continuing its commitment to early childhood education. Speaking at a ceremony at the school, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CHASE Fund, Billy Heaven, said the furnishing...

The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), in partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI), will shortly commence a 3-year study of wind and solar to enhance the country's renewable energy options. The study is being funded to the tune of just over US$1 million, through a US$750,000 grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), as well as provisions...

With the Centre of Excellence for Advanced Technology in Agriculture (CEATA) now a reality, persons can begin benefitting from its work immediately, through the use of its official website. The CEATA, launched by Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding last March, was created to serve as a coordinating agency to address research and training in the agricultural sector. As part...

Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon. James Robertson, has stated that the General Consumption Tax, (GCT) to be applied to electricity as part of the Government's latest tax package will not be retroactive and will be applied effective in March. The Minister's statement follows the announcement by the Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding, in December that GCT would be...