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The stock of money in circulation on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2008 the last shopping day before Christmas stood at just over $52 billion, representing an increase of approximately 4.4 per cent relative to the stock of some $49.8, which obtained for the similar period in 2007. The Central Bank attributed the relatively small increase of money in circulation to...

Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), HE Dr. Edwin Carrington has sent a message of condolence to the Government and people of Jamaica in the wake of Friday's fatal accident at Dam Bridge in the Rio Grande Valley area of Portland. Following is Dr. Carrington's message: "I have just received the news of the tragic accident which took place on...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr. the Honourable Ronald Robinson has welcomed new measures introduced by the Customs Department to facilitate the processing of Returning Residents. The initiatives implemented this month, followed representation made by Minister Robinson to Custom Authorities earlier this year. The representation was in response to a request from...

The Cuban Government through the Catedra Internacional de Artes Plasticas y Musicas is offering two scholarships, one in Music (percussion and guitar) and the other in Visual Arts (painting and print) ), to Jamaican students between the ages of 18 and 25, to pursue a course of study in Cuba for approximately three and a half years, beginning in March...

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...