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The first year in office was hectic for the new Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, whose portfolio also includes Entertainment, Community Development, and Women's and Gender Affairs. In her wide ranging contribution to the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate titled "Defining Ourselves," Minister Grange said, "I have the honour to lead this Ministry at a time of social...

The CARICOM Competition Commission, which was established in January this year, could become functional by early next year. This was noted by Attorney-at-law, Ambassador Stewart Stephenson, one of the seven Commissioners on the CARICOM Competition Commission, in an interview with JIS News. "As you know, the Commission is not yet off the ground. We had a meeting in February and...

The achievements of the Land Information Council of Jamaica (LICJ) were recognized at the recently concluded 4th Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) Caribbean Conference held in the Cayman Islands. URISA is a non-profit association of professionals involved in improving urban and regional environments through the use of information technology. The URISA conference was held under the theme 'Evolution...

Minister of Agriculture, Dr Christopher Tufton, has informed that the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav on August 28, has resulted in 79 per cent damage to Jamaica's banana and plantain industry. "The Eastern Banana Estate and the St. Mary Banana Estate, sustained damage of 95 per cent and 60 per cent respectively. The Jamaica Producers Group Limited, operators of both...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has noted that higher inflation and interest rates will have an effect both on the country's revenue and expenditure. "The higher inflation could in fact lead to increased revenue, particularly with respect to income and consumption taxes. The Government of Jamaica, is also a purchaser of goods and services, and accordingly,...

Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, has emphasised that stakeholders in the education system need to be accountable for the outcomes within the sector. "A challenge is to get our leaders in education, our education administrators, instructors, teachers to be accountable for the outcomes of the Education Ministry. For too long in our education system, we have not had a strong...

The Hyacinth Williams Foundation for Children (HWFC) today (Sept. 24), launched a project valued at $16 million, at the Rousseau Primary School in Kingston. The project includes the construction of a two storey, four classroom building; equipping the school's special education centre with computers and literacy boosting software; giving a financial boost to the school's performing arts programme; and establishing...

The House of Representatives yesterday (Sept. 23), approved a Ministry Paper for the Heads of Agreement, between the Government of Jamaica and Infinity Bio-Energy of Brazil. Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, who moved for the Ministry Paper to be approved, noted that the Government is committed to the country's strategy for the adaptation of the sugar cane industry up...

Minister of Industry, Investment, and Commerce, Karl Samuda, has cited an urgent need for what he describes as an "integrated approach", to attracting the quality of investments to Jamaica, that will yield significant and substantial benefits to the country. Speaking at the global launch in Jamaica, of the World Investment Report for 2008, at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston...

Hundreds of persons from Montego Bay and its environs converged at Sam Sharpe Square on September 23, to participate in a cultural concert dubbed, 'Miss Lou Ring Ding', put on by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), to commemorate the birthday of cultural icon, Louise Bennett-Coverley. The large crowd was well entertained with nostalgic selections of dialect, songs, dances, and...

Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, says there is a clear need for the restructuring and re-engineering the international financial system. He is of the view that the world has been moving on a trajectory that has not fully embraced the new realities in the world economy. He said financial regulators were struggling to catch up and have failed to realise that...

Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, has sought to explain Government's position on the provision of the guarantee of US$4.5 million, to American Airlines. Addressing representatives of the Committee for a Better Jamaica, at the West Club in Manhattan, New York yesterday (Sept 22), Mr. Golding said the support to American Airlines, was critical to ensure that the airline maintains its flights...