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Damage done by Tropical Storm Gustav to the agricultural sector in western Jamaica, has been estimated at just over $98 million. Of the three western parishes of St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland, St. James was the worst affected by the storm, in terms of dollar value. Based on assessments done by Officers of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), losses...

Wife of the Prime Minister, Lorna Golding, has appealed to Jamaicans in Atlanta, to give more support to the island's schools. "I implore you all to contribute more to education, so that the children of Jamaica can get the right start," she pleaded. Mrs. Golding was speaking at the Benevolent Mission of Atlanta fund-raising tea party, at the Villa Christina...

Individuals and organisations that have given exceptional service within the tourism industry, will be recognised and rewarded at the sector's inaugural staging of the Tourism Service Excellence Awards (TSEA), which will take place during the 2008/09 winter tourist season. Speaking with JIS News, Director of Tourism Facilitation at the Ministry of Tourism, Tina Williams, said the event is expected to...

The Registrar General's Department (RGD), began accepting payments online for express applications for birth, death and marriage certificates, as of yesterday (Sept 9). "Effective today, we are offering to Jamaicans all over the world, the ability to make applications and at the same time request service," Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the RGD, Dr. Patricia Holness told JIS News. "I...

The Woodlands Primary School in Cross Keys, Manchester, has received a facelift, carried out by persons on the Inmates Public Work Programme, which is administered by the Ministry of National Security. Speaking at a re-dedication ceremony held at the school yesterday (September 9), State Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Arthur Williams, said the current phase of the...

Executive Director and Curator of Liberty Hall, Donna McFarlane, is hoping that the recent decision by the Organisation of American States (OAS), to name its Hall of Culture in honour of National Hero, Marcus Garvey, will re-galvanise calls for his exoneration by the United States of America (USA). "We are absolutely thrilled at Liberty Hall, for such an honour to...

Minister of Water and Housing, Dr. Horace Chang, has said that measures are ongoing to address the issue of informal settlements or squatting across the country. Speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday (Sept. 9), Dr. Chang informed that teams were established, to give accurate data in an effort to understand the number of cases of informal settlements in the...

Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, will leave the island tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday, Sept 9, 2008) for Barbados, to attend the 14th special meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), on the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday (September 10), and will also be attended by representatives of the Ministry...

"Great start with a good throw" is how Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Honourable Olivia "Babsy" Grange, described the performance Paralympian Tanto Campbell, who won bronze in the discus at the Paralympics in Beijing, China on Sunday night. Miss Grange was full of praise for Campbell, who also won a bronze medal at the 2004 Paralympic Games in...

The Government of Jamaica, has dispatched a team of six persons to the Turks and Caicos Islands, to provide support in the aftermath of the impact of Hurricane Ike, on the islands. The Turks and Caicos, home to many Jamaicans, was hit by the powerful Category 4 Hurricane Ike on Sunday, September 7, destroying more than 80 percent of the...

Executive Director of the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ), Winsome Hudson, is assuring Jamaicans that the National Library is adequately prepared and committed to protecting the nation's invaluable collections from disasters, especially tropical storms and hurricanes. "We weathered Gustav very well, but it wasn't luck, because disaster preparedness and preparing for hurricanes is at the forefront of our operations and...

More than US$3,200 was recently raised by the Jamaica Consulate in Miami, to benefit the Swift Purcell Boys' Home in St. Mary and the Jamaica Christian Boys' Home in Kingston. The funds are proceeds from the annual Ecumenical Independence church service, which was held in August in Fort Lauderdale and attended by over 1,000 Jamaican nationals and friends. Since 2003,...