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Prime Minister Bruce Golding says Jamaica's entertainment industry will experience a major boost when the Economic Partnership Agreement between Cariforum countries and the European Community comes into effect later this year. He told a group of British journalists at a luncheon at the Jamaican High Commission in London that reggae music had the potential to become one of Jamaica's biggest...

Minister of Mining and Telecommunications the Honourable Derrick Smith left the island this afternoon (May 25) for the United States. Mr. Smith, who has been absent from official duties since last month following a minor surgical procedure, is seeking further medical advice in the United States. He is expected to return to Jamaica within ten days. And the Acting Prime...

The town of Mandeville will come alive this Saturday, May 24, when members of the Caribbean District of Optimist International meet at the Golf View Hotel, Caledonia Road, for their Third Quarter Regional Conference. The one-day Conference, under the chairmanship of Governor Granville Newell starts off with an Executive Committee meeting at 7.30 a.m., which will be followed at 10.30...

The health Ministry remains on high alert for suspected cases of measles, and as such will this Labour Day weekend continue its fever and rash surveillance island wide. Vaccines will also be administered to persons who are not fully immunized. Communities are therefore asked to cooperate with health officials who may visit their area to do interviews, vaccination and educational...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, J.C. Hutchinson has said that the time has come to take a long hard look at the banana industry, with a view to strategically reposition it. "The fact is, no other sub-sector is more susceptible to adverse weather conditions than the banana industry. We have simply had to rebuild every time there...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, J.C. Hutchinson has emphasised that the growth of the agricultural sector is largely dependent on the growth of the cash crop sector. "Therefore, we have to identify crops that are competitive for us to compete globally, also to provide food security," Mr Hutchinson said as he made his contribution to the 2008/09...

The Ministry of Agriculture is exploring means of partnering with the private sector for greater value-added opportunities for the cocoa industry, as it seeks to widen prospects for that product. This collaboration with the private sector is being examined as part of a joint study being conducted by the Cocoa Industry Board (CIB) and the United States Agency for International...

Government will be spending some $652 million during the 2008/09 financial year to develop water supply projects in several parishes. Minister of State for Water and Housing, Everald Warmington made this disclosure while addressing a contract signing and ground breaking ceremony for the Fruitful Vale water supply system on April 30, at the Fruitful Vale All-age School in Portland. Mr....

Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, J.C. Hutchinson has informed that the Ministry is to undertake the construction and rehabilitation of four irrigation systems. "The irrigation systems to be built and/or rehabilitated are Yallahs in St. Thomas; New Forrest/Duffs House in Manchester; Colbeck and St. Dorothy in St. Catherine; and Essex Valley in St. Elizabeth," Mr. Hutchinson said...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security's Overseas Work Programme is being expanded to increase employment opportunities for Jamaican workers, said Minister with portfolio responsibility, Pearnel Charles. Making his contribution in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate at Gordon House on Wednesday (May 21), Mr. Charles said that while the programme has worked well over the years, in recent times, "we have...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has said that servicing the island's US$14 billion (J$995 billion) debt has had a crippling effect on the Government's ability to adequately fund critical public services, including health and education. Addressing Jamaicans in Manchester on May 22, he said the island had to spend more than US$200 million each year servicing the debt. "Every single day...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles, has said that the Ministry's Market Information System will be strengthened during the current financial year, to facilitate advertisement of job vacancies to more expeditiously address the needs of the country's investors. The Minister, who made the announcement in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (May 21), said that $5 million has...