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The McCauley Primary School in Spanish Town, St. Catherine has benefited from much needed upgrading of sanitary facilities, which was undertaken by the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation at a cost of some $900,000. The scope of work included the replacement of 30 toilets and the installation of eight urinals and four showers. As part of the project, the drinking...

For the 18th consecutive year, February 6 has been proclaimed Bob Marley Day in the city of Toronto, Canada. Mayor David Miller, on behalf of the Toronto City Council, issued the Proclamation in honour of the reggae superstar, who spoke out against "oppression, poverty, slavery, apartheid and for human rights." This year's Proclamation reads:"Whereas Robert Nesta Marley was born on...

The need for drivers to embrace and practise defensive driving techniques was highlighted at a Defensive Driving Seminar, held at the Old Port Antonio Marina in Portland on January 29. The seminar, which was organised by the Road Safety Unit of the Ministry of Transport and Works, was attended by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Jamaica Union of...

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Jamaica Solution to Youth Lifestyle and Empowerment Project, today (Feb. 5) launched a parenting intervention package, which was developed to build better parenting skills, especially for parents with adolescents. The parenting package, which was launched at the Knutsford Court Hotel, comprises a parenting curriculum, a good parenting calendar, a parenting...

Under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Europe and Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) states, the parties have confirmed their commitment to the rights and obligations provisions in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). This aspect of the agreement seeks to facilitate trade between the parties, while maintaining and increasing their capacity to protect health, safety,...

A Commonwealth expert team, headed by former Foreign Affairs Minister, K. D. Knight, is now in Belize to observe that country's February 7 elections. Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, said that the three-member team, which arrived in Belize on February 1 and will depart on February 12, was constituted at the behest of the Government of Belize. Their work will be...

Jamaicans in the United Kingdom (UK) were recently updated on various measures being undertaken by Government to tackle crime, including plans to increase significantly, the number of police personnel on the streets. Minister of National Security, Derrick Smith, speaking with Jamaican community leaders at a round table meeting held at the High Commission in London recently, said that the Government...

The Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) has launched its 'Callaloo for Peace' initiative in the nation's schools, as part of its activities to observe Peace Month (February 6 to March 4). Under the initiative, schools across the nation will be provided with callaloo seeds, which will be planted and nourished. Upon maturation, the school will be required to use the callaloo...

A new eight-member Board of Directors of the Jamaican Nationals Association (JNA) of Washington, D.C. has been appointed. They are: Dr. Jacqui Payne, President; Ian Harvey, Vice President; Claudette Henry, Executive Secretary; Joyell Arscott, Recording Secretary; Denakay Brown, Treasurer; Enid Russell, Assistant Treasurer; Franklyn Burke, Parliamentarian; Rosie Parke, Public Relations Officer, and Moreen Wallace, Immediate past-President. In her acceptance speech...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has said that the formal sector of the economy urgently need to be strengthened as for too long this sector has been going into decline. "We have seen our financial sector go into implosion, we have seen over 40 financial institutions collapse... because the other side of the formal economy, the...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding said Jamaica will have to decide on how much government a country of its size and population needs, in order to determine the structure and form of the local government system. He said local government has always had to do battle with central government in determining where their respective jurisdictions begin and end, and this has...

Cabinet has approved a new Board of Directors for Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited; new members for the Natural Conservation Authority (NRCA); new members for Board of Examiners under the Electric Lighting Regulations as well a new Quarries Advisory Committee. These entities fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Telecommunications. A news release from the Ministry of...