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Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, is optimistic that the ongoing negotiations with Brazilian company, Infinity Bio-Energy, will conclude in the signing of an agreement for the takeover of the country's five state-owned sugar companies, with the Government holding a minority share. "We remain optimistic that we will have a conclusion but we are not there as yet...however, we did...

Cabinet has approved the establishment of nine fishing sanctuaries in seven critical areas around the island's coastline, to complement the existing two sanctuaries. Making the announcement at today's (December 23), post-Cabinet press briefing, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, noted that this is part of Government's efforts to take steps to begin the process of encouraging more sustainable fisheries, while...

President of the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA), Omar Azan, has welcomed the Government's assistance to the manufacturing sector, noting that "businesses and the productive sector will definitely be able to gain" from the initiatives announced. Mr. Azan, who was speaking in an interview with JIS News, said that the measures "will be essential in the short-term in providing immediate cash...

Chief Inspector of the National Education Inspectorate (NEI), Elaine Foster Allen, has emphasised that high quality inspections of schools would be undertaken, in an effort to boost their performance. "Through inspections we will raise the performance levels of all within the education system. It may not be so easy to make the connection between inspection and raising the levels of...

The Diaspora group Jamaica Society Leeds has donated some $80,000 to the London-based Chain of Hope medical charity, which provides surgeries and medical care to Jamaican children with life threatening heart conditions. Community Relations Officer at the Jamaican High Commission in London, Delores Cooper, yesterday (Dec. 22) handed over the cheque to Chain of Hope Executive Director, Emma Scanlan, on...

There are mixed reactions from consumers to the Government's decision to grant permits for the importation of 625,000 kg or 25 containers of chicken leg quarters. Agriculture Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that the move is aimed at filling a shortage in production, as indicated by the main producers, as well as ensuring that the price of the commodity...

The Government is putting measures in place to address the high crime rate, including appropriate legislation to punish offenders and protect the innocent. Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn, speaking at the annual fundraising banquet of the Florida chapter of the Jamaica Ex-Soldiers Association (JESA) held recently in Dania, noted that several pieces of legislation are being discussed at...

The Minister of State for Project Implementation and Service Delivery in the Office of the Prime Minister, Daryl Vaz, has requested that a detailed Social Inquiry report on the children who lost parents or guardians in the motor vehicle tragedy in Portland on December 19, be completed by mid January so that a structure can be put in place to...

Mr. J.A.G. Smith, former Jamaica Labour Party Member of Parliament who served as Minister of Labour and the Public Service in the 1980s died last night (December 23) at the University Hospital of the West Indies. The Prime Minister, the Honourable Bruce Golding, in expressing regret at the passing of Mr. Smith, who was popularly known as "JAGS", said he...

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), has launched an initiative to assist the children of the Rio Grande Valley, Portland, who lost parents in an accident on December 19, in which a market truck overturned, killing 14 persons. The OPM is to donate $500,000 to start the fund, and the Ministry of Agriculture has undertaken to contribute the same...

Director of Peace at the Life Counselling Ministries in Clarendon, Josephine Williams, has called on stakeholders within the education system, to recognise the worth of the peer counselling programme, in keeping students focussed and goal-oriented. She said the programme has been reaping tremendous success in schools within the parish. Speaking at a peer counselling competition recently hosted at Central High...

An additional 107 soldiers have been added to the complement of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). At the graduation ceremony, held recently at the Moneague Training Camp, in St. Ann, Minister of National Security, Senator Colonel Trevor MacMillan, said the need for more army personnel and more police personnel "is absolutely critical to us at this time." "As you know,...