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As we enter into a brand new year, I trust that you had a happy and peaceful Christmas and that the New Year finds you renewed, refreshed and hopeful. It is a great blessing to be here, alive and alert to greet 2008 and I give thanks for this privilege. During the year, there were groundbreaking achievements, especially with regard...

A plaque was unveiled at the Black River market in St. Elizabeth on December 28, to memorialize the 133 live African slaves who were thrown from the British slave ship, the Zong, in 1781. On December 28, 1781, the Zong docked in Black River with 208 Africans, 232 less than when it left the African coast. "The story of the...

On Sunday, January 6, residents of the maroon community of Accompong in St. Elizabeth, as well as persons from across the island, will gather for the annual celebration marking Captain Cudjo's birthday and the 270th year of the signing of the peace treaty with Britain. It was in 1738 after over 80 years of almost constant fighting that the then...

Since the new Government came into office on September 11, the Ministry of Transport and Works has been repairing and rehabilitating damaged infrastructure, such as roads, water systems and bridges, caused by Hurricane Dean in August and heavy rains in October and November. The Ministry has so far spent millions of dollars to effect these repairs and rehabilitative works. Transport...

The Abilities Foundation is a safe haven for persons with disabilities, a place where they can feel loved and accepted. At this organization, they are equipped with the necessary skills to effectively re-adjust within the society. This re-adjustment is critical for many disabled persons, as it will allow them to live a normal life, where they can provide for themselves...

All sugar factories across the island are expected to be in full production by the end of January 2008, with the aim of achieving the 2007/08 target of 108,500 tons of sugar for the crop, which ends in June, 2008. Frome sugar factory in Westmoreland was the first to begin reaping cane on December 26 for the 2007/08 crop. According...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has worked assiduously over the past 100 days to secure jobs for Jamaicans, as well as to improve the country's human capital through education and training. Hundreds of Jamaicans were recruited in October to work in the construction, hospitality and the health care service sectors in British Columbia, Canada through the Ministry's Canadian...

The activities of the Ministry of Justice were highlighted by measures to reduce police excesses, in keeping with a commitment by Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, to protect and defend the rights of Jamaicans and to ensure that there is adequate redress, where citizens' rights are violated. Cabinet, in November, issued drafting instructions for the establishment of an independent commission to...

The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce focused primarily on alleviating the problems that arose from the shortage of cement, basic food commodities such as flour and rice and the scrap metal operations. Attention was also given to the continued development of the small and medium-sized sector. In addressing the cement shortage, agreements were made in September, for local cement...

Since the Government came to office on September 11, the Ministry of Water and Housing has been focusing on improving domestic water supply, upgrading sewage systems and assisting with the provision of shelter for persons who were affected by the onslaught of Hurricane Dean in August. In November, Minister of Water and Housing, Dr. Horace Chang, announced that the government...

The Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Telecommunications, placed major emphasis on promoting e-transactions, as part of the effort to transform Jamaican into a digital society and drive national development. In keeping with this focus, on October 23, the Ministry launched a public education programme to inform the public of the rights, responsibilities and benefits that...

Members of the public are being asked to desist from damaging the boxes in which the screwworm flies are being released. "We have received reports that individuals out there have been damaging these boxes and we are asking them to refrain from doing so. These boxes with these flies are important to eradicating the screwworm from Jamaica," said Information Officer...