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The need for greater awareness of the impact of natural hazards on national development, and a strategic approach to dealing with these were underscored at a workshop staged by the Geological Society of Jamaica (GSJ) at the Jamaica Conference Centre on Tuesday (November 27). The workshop was part of the GSJ's activities in observance of Geo-Sciences for Development Week, which...

Already considered to be the Region's 'centre of excellence' for the provision of maritime education, training, research and consultancy, the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) recently announced that it has entered a number of strategic partnerships that will see the Institute's extending its franchise of training programmes across the Caribbean and providing its students with hands-on training on some of the...

Newly-appointed Minister with responsibility for Entertainment, Hon. Olivia 'Babsy' Grange said she was delighted to be Guest Speaker at the launch of the Jamaica Music Society (JAMMS), an independent, non-profit performance rights organization formed to defend the rights of Jamaican music producers and record manufacturers. She was speaking at the Terra Nova Hotel on Tuesday, November 27th where she reminded...

The Government expects to spend $22 billion more for the 2007/08 fiscal year. As contained in the first supplementary estimates, which were tabled in the House of Representatives on (Nov. 27) by Minister of Finance and Public Service, Audley Shaw, estimates of spending for the fiscal year has increased from $380.3 billion to $402.5 billion. Recurring or housekeeping expenditure will...

Jamaica must continue to work aggressively to put strategies and policies in place to effectively address all forms of gender-based violence and abuse. Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, the Hon. Olivia Grange firmly expressed this view in her address at a stakeholder's dialogue on gender -based violence, which was hosted by the Bureau of Women's Affairs in collaboration...

The Government is taking steps to reduce the damage to the country's road network by over-loaded vehicles, with the re-institution of the commercial vehicle and safety weight limit enforcement programme. "This programme seeks to address problem of the damage to the roads caused by the overloading of vehicles, mostly trucks, and is aimed at improving safety along the roadways of...

The Forestry Department will host its annual exhibition on (Nov.29) under the theme: 'A Greener Jamaica, a Healthier You'. The event, which will be held at the Forestry Department's office at 173 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 8, will give members of the public the opportunity to view the work of the Department and its stakeholders in areas such as conservation...

The Government is looking to diversify economic activity in the principal banana growing parishes of St. Thomas and St. Mary, to mitigate the fallout from the damage to the industry caused by Hurricane Dean and to increase employment. Agriculture Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, in a statement in the House of Representatives on (Nov. 27), informed that Cabinet has approved the...

Cabinet has given the go-ahead for legislation to be drafted for the creation of the Office of Special Prosecutor, to investigate high-level acts of corruption in the public and private sector. Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, who made the disclosure at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing on (Nov. 27) at Jamaica House, said that the Special Prosecutor's...

Government will be providing a US$4 million loan to banana farmers, to assist in the recovery of farms, which were damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Dean.The loan, which will be provided by the Development Bank of Jamaica, will be made available through the Banana Export Company (BECO). Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, who made the disclosure during a statement...

Cabinet has approved the appointment of several persons to chair the boards of state agencies. This was disclosed by Information, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister, Olivia Grange, at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing on (Nov. 27) at Jamaica House. Governor of the Bank of Jamaica (BoJ), Derrick Latibeaudiere, has been appointed as the chairman of the BoJ Board. The Public...

The St. Mary Banana Estate is now Fair Trade Certified, which signifies that the fruits are produced under environmentally sustainable conditions and in keeping with standards of international labour. Minister of Agriculture Dr. Christopher Tufton made the disclosure in a statement in the House of Representatives on (Nov. 27). Fair Trade is an organized social movement, which aims to improve...