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Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has stated that the Government will enact a National Disability Act that will provide additional legislative support to the National Policy for the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. He said the country's vision for development cannot be accomplished if persons with disabilities are not provided with opportunities for social, economic, political and cultural advancement....

Delighted to participate in this Passing-out Exercise and Prize Giving Ceremony of the Early Stimulation Programme. I pleased to be part of this occasion not only because of the very special love I have for children, but I can well recall back in 1977, as a member of the Cabinet, the decision to take over the funding of this programme....

Production in the bauxite/alumina sector for 2002 was recorded at 13.12 million tonnes, which reflects a 6.1 per cent increase over 2001. As stated in the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI)'s annual report for 2002, the production figures were the highest since 1974. The report said that despite disruptions in production due to bad weather in May, June and August, as...

Between April 2002 and March 2003, a total of $25.2 million was spent on 31 projects in five bauxite parishes, under Phase Four of the seven year-old Bauxite Community Development Programme (BCDP), implemented by the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) in October 1996. The parishes are Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, St.Ann and St. Catherine. The programme aims to reinvest earnings from...

The Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) has been working internally to develop a nuisance compensation policy guideline for the bauxite/alumina companies, in recognition that the dust from bauxite and alumina operations is a persistent problem. In its 2002/03 Report, which was tabled in the House last week, it was stated that the guideline, which has undergone several reviews, including one by...

Remember the days when it was common to "marry" goods, where upon purchasing an item, you were told to receive it, you would have to buy something else? And, have you ever been enticed to make a purchase at a particular store, having seen an item advertised at a particular price, but when you get there, the product is out...

Importers and exporters of food, plants, animals and related products, may soon find it easier to conduct business, as Government is working on a project to streamline and simplify the issuance of permits and the inspection process for trade in these products. Shirley Ann Eaton, Project Manager for the Regulations, Legislation and Process Improvement Project (Regs & Legs) in the...

The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) is lending its expertise to other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries as they work to develop their own competition laws, in time for the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) in 2005. Already, Barbados has been assisted to set up its own competition agency in January this year and now joins Jamaica as...

Cleaning up activities will be conducted on a number of beaches in Portland today as the parish observes International Beach Clean Up Day. The effort will be spearheaded by the Portland Environment Protection Association (PEPA), in collaboration with the National Environmental Societies Trust and the United States Peace Corps, with funding from the Canadian Green Fund. Marguerite Gauron, President PEPA,...

The National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) has recognised 11 persons, two senior citizens clubs and one service organisation from the parishes of Clarendon, Manchester and St. Elizabeth for their outstanding contribution to the Council. The regional awards ceremony was hosted by the NCSC on Tuesday (Sept. 16) at the St. James Methodist Church Hall in May Pen, under the...

The St. Thomas Fire Department has started a public education programme on fire prevention regulations, aimed at reducing the number of fires in the parish. Deputy Superintendent of the Fire Department, Louiston Gooden, told JIS News that members of the fire prevention department have been visiting schools, community clubs and churches in the parish to give lectures on "what to...

The St. Elizabeth Parish Development Committee (PDC) has organised a fish fry to raise money for the upgrading of the Sandy Bank Primary School in Junction. The event will be held on Sunday, September 20, at the Jack Sprat Restaurant in Treasure Beach beginning at noon and Jason Henzell, Chairman of the PDC, is inviting residents to come out and...