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The Jamaican Consulate in Miami has announced an increase in passport fees, to reflect the recent hike in postal rates by the United States Postal Service. The new fee structure, which takes effect on Monday, May 21, will result in passport renewals moving to US $110 for adults and US $80 for children under the age of 18 years, while...

The Literature Department of the Americas Society recently hosted readings by Caribbean literary scholars Lorna Goodison and Caryl Phillips, at its headquarters in Manhattan, New York. Ms. Goodison read from her rich poetry collection, which explores her family history, the splendor of her native Jamaica and the African/European strands of Caribbean society. Among the poems she recited were 'Controlling the...

Entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the services being provided through the business information centres, which are being set up by the Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC) across the island."People consider it to be a solution to their problems especially where it regards information on business development," said Althea Bennett, Project Manager at JBDC. "They are appreciative of having that kind...

The Tax Administration Services Department (TASD) is reminding motorists, who are ticketed for traffic offences, that they have the option to pay the relevant fines online by visiting the Tax Administration's website at www.jamaicatax-online.gov.jm. Speaking with JIS News, Director of Public Relations at the TASD, Meris Haughton explained that persons who opted to make their payments online could do so...

Judging of the inaugural Better Environments for Social Transformation (BEST) community competition will begin on Labour Day, May 23. Chairperson of the Steering Committee for BEST, Jacqueline DaCosta, told JIS News that some 180 communities islandwide will be vying for prizes at the parish and national levels. The number of entrants, she said, has exceeded expectations, based on the fact...

The St. James-based Cornwall College emerged the top school in the Jamaica Manufacturer's Association (JMA) 'Buy Jamaican, Build Jamaica' essay competition, copping cash prizes valued at $135,000 and two computers at the award ceremony held yesterday (May 17) at the JMA's Duke Street offices in Kingston. Samuel Downer, who placed first in the 16-18 age category, received $40,000 and a...

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) continued to regulate the securities sector during the 2006/07 fiscal period, with emphasis on monitoring the solvency and market conduct of licensed entities. This was done through a programme of routine and special examinations, as well as stock market surveillance. Executive Director of the FSC, Brian Wynter on May 16 gave details of the activities...

More than 5,000 jobs are to be created in the tourism sector when the Harmony Cove Resort in Trelawny is completed in another decade. This was noted recently by Managing Partner of the Tavistock Group, Christopher Anand, at a Speaker's Forum on the US$2 to $4 billion Harmony Cove Resort Project, held in Kingston. "Economically it will be a huge...

The Health Ministry wants additional volunteers for the third HIV vaccine trial, which will get underway this summer. "We certainly need more participants now going into the new trial," said Chief Investigator of the HIV Vaccine Trials, Professor Peter Figueroa. "We would definitely welcome more persons coming forward." The Professor, who is also Chief of Epidemiology and AIDS in the...

The refurbishing of the Gray's Charity building in Port Maria, St. Mary, which is part of the Fort Haldane heritage site, has been chosen as the parish project for Labour Day 2007. Secretary Manager of the St. Mary Parish Council, Kerry Chambers, told JIS News that the historic site was chosen as the parish project in keeping with the Labour...

The Ministry of Education and Youth in collaboration with the Caribbean Council for the Blind yesterday (May 17) officially opened the Special Education Computer Laboratory at the Ministry's Caenwood Centre offices. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Maria Jones said the opening of the lab was an important step toward empowering special education students and teachers through access to appropriate technology...

The 6th annual Caribbean Microfinance Network (CMN) a three-day roundtable conference, ended yesterday (May 17), with delegates reaching consensus on the importance of microfinance lending in the Caribbean. The shared vision of the CMN: that of extending the reach of microfinance in the Caribbean through the exchange of ideas, discussions of needs and identification of innovative opportunities, was the focal...