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The Government embarked on a programme when it came into power last year, to re-organise and restructure the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), in order to better manage the island's solid waste. This charge has been led by Joan Gordon Webley, who was appointed Executive Director in November 2007. In February, Prime Minister Bruce Golding called on Jamaicans to...

After months of discussions and negotiations, the divestment of the Government's sugar estates, is scheduled to be completed by September 30. The estates, comprising Bernard Lodge, St. Catherine; Frome, Westmoreland; Hampden, Trelawny; Monymusk, Clarendon; and Duckenfield, St. Thomas, are being divested to Brazilian bio-energy fuel firm, Infinity Bio-Energy Limited (IBE). In June, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, signed a Heads of...

Deputy Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Paul Lai, says the local motor vehicle industry has grown significantly over the past 15 years, with more than 400,000 units being imported during the period. This figure includes cars, Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), and trucks, he said. Speaking at the recent Annual General Meeting of the Jamaica...

Kumba Mi Yabba, the Jamaica Business Development Centre's (JBDC) annual Christmas fair, promises to be bigger and better this year, with new and improved features, including a change in venue. The event, which creates promotional and marketing opportunities for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in Jamaica, will now be staged at its new location at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre,...

Minister of Energy, Clive Mullings, yesterday (Sept.16) disclosed to the House of Representatives that the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Company owes the state oil refinery, Petrojam, $5.7 billion for fuel, of which $2.9 billion is now due and payable. "This raises a very serious question and I indicated to the Chairman of Marubeni, to convey to Tokyo, the Government's concern...

Minister of Energy, Clive Mullings, yesterday (Sept. 16), informed the House of Representatives, that the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Company, has been directed to discontinue the extension of any billing period for customers beyond the 30 or 31 days, authorised by its licence. "Customers who were wrongfully billed (some 9,000 customers) in this manner, are to have their next bills...

Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has emphasised that a concerted effort must be made to ensure that agricultural produce that are entering the island are of the highest standards and quality. Speaking with JIS News, during a tour of the Customs facilities at Newport West yesterday (Sept. 16), Dr. Tufton said that his main priorities were to ensure that...

Former Olympian, Byron LaBeach, an alternate member of Jamaica's 4x400m relay team that won gold at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, is encouraging Jamaicans to remember, appreciate, and pay tribute to the trailblazers, who paved the way for the successes attained at the Beijing Olympics. Mr. LaBeach was speaking at a handing over ceremony on September 15, at the National...

Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, has informed that the agreement entered into with American Airlines, is of tremendous benefit to Jamaica, as with nearly 3,000 new hotel rooms to fill this year, additional airlift is critical. "The arrangements secured the Dallas/Fort Worth/Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) flights, critical to our behind the gateway markets of the west, south, and northwest United...

One month after the launch of the toll free line for persons with disabilities, the Executive Director for the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), Ransford Wright, has reported minimal usage of the telephone line. "Since the inception of the 1-888-ENABLED toll free line, we here, at the Council, have not seen any marked improvement in the delivery of...

The Government remained committed during the past year, to improving the physical conditions under which police officers carry out their duties. Since the Bruce Golding administration took office in September of last year, a number of police stations have undergone major infrastructural improvements, while new ones have also been built. In November, a new police station was opened in Sligoville,...

Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, has informed that there are several project proposals that will directly impact the Central Kingston Constituency, under the Kingston Development Project, that is to be undertaken by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC). He said it is proposed to establish, in the Parade Gardens area, a cultural village under the theme 'Out of Many, One People', to...