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Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett has pointed out that the faith-based tourism sector, which the island is in the process of developing, will provide the greatest opportunity for small and medium sized enterprises (SME), and properties. "It is not only that they are coming for entertainment and fun but there are large group of volunteers who spend many weeks in...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has said that the Bretton Woods agreement needs to be revised, in order to address economic problems currently affecting the world, particularly developing countries. Speaking in an interview with JIS News at the Norman Manley International Airport on May 25, on his return from the United Kingdom (UK), where he met with Prime Minister Gordon Brown,...

Jamalco has come to the aid of a 73 year-old farmer, Hervine Lord of Mount Oliphant, Manchester, whose house was destroyed by Hurricane Dean in August last year. On Labour Day (May 23), members of the Jamalco Community Council and persons in the community began constructing a two-bed room house for the senior citizen. It is slated to be completed...

The World Bank has facilitated a Japanese grant to the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), to undertake studies and develop capacity in preparation for a World Bank loan to support the Early Childhood sector. As set out in a Ministry Paper tabled in the House of Representatives last week by the Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, the loan is performance-based with...

The Jamaica Foundation for Life Long Learning (JFLL) has piloted a computer-aided instruction programme for the teaching of literacy. This is contained in a Ministry Paper tabled in the House of Representatives last week by Education Minister, Andrew Holness. The programme will facilitate a wider spread of learner-centred interventions across the country, allowing persons to advance at their own pace,...

State Minister for Agriculture, J.C. Hutchinson has informed that the Fruit Tree Crop Programme is expected to assist some 200 farmers to establish between 400 and 450 hectares of orchard crops during this fiscal period. He also pointed out that the project supported the establishment of over 200 hectares of fruit tree orchards on farmers' holdings during the last financial...

Some 117 of 139 contracts valued at $246 million, which were awarded to effect repairs to schools which sustained damage by hurricane Dean in August 2007, have been completed. According to a Ministry Paper tabled in the House last week by Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, 518 institutions, inclusive of teachers' colleges, were assessed. However, only 507, at an approximate...

Some 397,000 children in basic, infant, primary, all-age and junior high schools across the island are currently benefiting from the Ministry of Education's School Feeding Programme. According to a Ministry Paper tabled in the House of Representatives last week by Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, 175,000 children receive a cooked meal; 136,000 benefit from the nutribun component, while 86,000 in...

Labour and Social Security Minister, Pearnel Charles has called for the reconstitution of the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee on the flexi-work week, to facilitate a resumption of discussions, with a view to finalizing the matter. Making his contribution to the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 21, Mr. Charles noted that the Committee met on four...

Cabinet has approved the new Board of Trustees for the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) and the Board of Directors for the Museums of History and Ethnography nominated by the Honourable Olivia "Babsy" Grange, Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports. The members of the Board of Trustees for the JNHT are:1. Mr. Patrick Stanigar Chairman2. Mr. Lloyd Chito Vice-Chairman3....

Eleven new schools, which will provide 11,020 additional places, are slated for construction during the current fiscal year under the Ministry of Education's New/Expansion School Programme. According to a Ministry Paper tabled in the House last week by Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, nine of these are high schools, which will provide 9,760 places, while two primary schools will provide...

Labour Day work in Portland got off to an early start with projects at the Buff Bay High School and the Tranquility All Age School forming the major part of the activities as Portlanders highlighted this year's theme 'Eat what we grow. grow what we eat'. The Buff Bay High School was the location for the National Labour Day Project,...