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Minister of Energy, Clive Mullings, has announced that procurement permits have been approved for the expansion of the Wigton wind farm with an additional 18 megawatts. He also disclosed that a private power company is looking to partner with the Government for the expansion project. "We have no reservations about the benefits that this will yield. I am heartened by...

A new Chairman and President for the state-run Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) are expected to be named soon, Transport and Works Minister, Michael Henry has announced. Speaking at Tuesday's (July 1) sitting of the House of Representatives, Mr. Henry said interviews are currently being conducted for both positions, and new appointments "are likely to be in place soon." The...

Minister of State with responsibility for project implementation and service delivery in the Office of the Prime Minister, Daryl Vaz, will on Thursday (July 3) launch the fourth biennial Public Sector Customer Service Competition at Jamaica House starting at 10:00 a.m. The competition evolved from the Citizen's Charter/Customer Service programme which began in 1994 under the public sector modernization initiative....

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has emphasized that in any regulation regarding the operations of credit unions, the Government would not seek to convert them into any other kind of institution. "I spoke with the Ministry of Finance and had discussions with the leadership of the (Credit Union) Movement here. I told the Ministry of Finance that in seeking to create...

There is no substitute for energy. The whole edifice of modern society is built on it. It is not "just another commodity" but the precondition of all commodities, a basic factor equal with air, water and earth.- E. F Schumacher (1973) ENERGY DRIVES DEVELOPMENT GLOBAL CONTEXTMr. Speaker, the energy sector is a major part of the global economy and has...

Former Mayor of Montego Bay, Arthur Gilchrist, died yesterday (June 30), in the Cornwall Regional Hospital, after a long illness. The management and staff of the St. James Parish Council have expressed regret at his passing, with the late Mayor being described as an outstanding public servant of extraordinary qualities and distinction. Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Charles Sinclair has...

Farmers in Bigwoods, St. Elizabeth, whose crops were destroyed by a fire earlier this year, are recovering. Natalie Gordon, a young female farmer in the area, told JIS News that the assistance provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has helped them to get back into production and they are now close to where...

Jamaican High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Burchell Whiteman has praised the pioneering Jamaicans who were among the West Indians who arrived in the United Kingdom on board the Empire Windrush 60 years ago. "I would like to praise the 492 Jamaicans who had ventured forth in search of a better future and in response to the needs of the...

Residents of coastal communities in St. Thomas are being urged to educate themselves on the ecology and value of wetlands so as to conserve and protect this vital resource. President of the St. Thomas Environmental Protection Agency (STEPA), Terrence Cover, made the appeal while addressing a meeting held yesterday (June 30) at the Anglican Church Hall, St. Thomas, to review...

More than 100 persons have been trained by the Justice Training Institute (JTI) to address human trafficking in Jamaica, as the country seeks to improve its international status on the issue. "We trained 56 police officers across the island, 46 persons from the courts, 11 persons from the Victim Support Unit of the Ministry of Justice including social workers and...

Within two years, some 80,000 kilolitres (80 million litres) of ethanol will be produced locally, under the Heads of Agreement between the Government of Jamaica and the Brazilian firm, Infinity Bio-Energy (IBE) Limited. This will be increased to 135,000 kilolitres (135 million litres) in 2013. Prime Minister Bruce Golding on June 27, signed a Heads of Agreement with the Brazilian...

Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton has assured sugar workers that all the necessary redundancy payments would be made on time, consistent with labour laws and the contracts signed between the Trade Unions and the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ). In a statement to the House of Representatives, today (July 1), he pointed out that the Government expects that by...