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Children's Advocate, Mary Clarke has added her praises for the move to abolish hospital user fees for children under the age of 18 years. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller made the announcement in her Budget Debate presentation, yesterday (May 1), indicating that children would be exempted from paying user fees at government hospitals and health facilities, except the University Hospital...

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has announced that a new Cultural Industries Council would replace the existing Entertainment Advisory Board in the Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, "with immediate effect." This should position Jamaica to tap into "one of the largest industries in the world," the Prime Minister said. Making her contribution in the 2007/08 Budget Debate in the...

With 123 road facilities since the start of the year, Executive Director of the National Road Safety Council, Paula Fletcher, has appealed to motorists to cut their speed and obey the rules of the road. The number is one less than the same period last year, when 124 persons lost their lives as a result of road accidents. Speaking with...

Commissioner of Police, Lucius Thomas, has said that the numbers for the month of April indicate that murders were trending downwards, from an increase since the start of the year. "The year 2007 did not start very well for us but we have seen downward movements in homicides," the Commissioner stated as he addressed the final of three community meetings...

Ambassador to the United States, Professor Gordon Shirley has said that the Conference on the Caribbean set for June 19-21, in Washington, would serve to strengthen and deepen the relationship between the Governments of the US and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Giving an overview at the 7th Diaspora Dialogue on the Conference of the Caribbean, at the Kelly Chapel United...

Come August 17, the government will commence a series of roundtable discussions, which are aimed at arriving at a national position on the issue of reparation. August 17, 2007 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of national hero, Marcus Garvey. Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, who made the announcement during her Budget presentation in the House of Representatives yesterday...

The Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) will be expanded this year from 236,000 to approximately 252,000 persons, and a further $100 million injected into the programme. In addition, students up to 17 years old will now be able to remain on the programme once they go on to sixth form. "We are giving an incentive for learning,...

The regulations under the National Insurance Act are to be amended, to enable more retirees to qualify for a pension. The move, which was announced by Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, in her contribution to the 2007/08 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday (May 1) will result in approximately 5,000 more contributors and their dependents becoming immediately eligible...

The small business incubator programme is closer to being a reality, with the recent approval by Cabinet of $120 million to fund the pilot phase of the programme. "We are going to start small business incubators across the island," said Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, in her contribution to the 2007/08 Budget Debate in the House of Representative yesterday (May...

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has said that the number of hotel rooms in the industry is projected to be increased by over 15,288 by 2012. "This represents an injection of over $80 billion in foreign direct investment, which will generate jobs for over 8,300 Jamaicans," the Prime Minister noted. Mrs. Simpson Miller was making her contribution to the 2007/08...

Government will be making more sporting facilities and amenities available to Jamaicans this financial year, in an attempt to channel and develop positive values and attitudes in the society. Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, in her Budget Presentation in the House of Representatives yesterday (May 1), mentioned plans to build 27 multi-purpose courts and the construction or upgrading of five...

As of May 28, children under the age of 18 years will receive free care at all government hospitals and health facilities, except the University Hospital of the West Indies. Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, who made the announcement during her contribution to the 2007/08 Budget Debate in Gordon House yesterday (May 1), noted that the move will also apply...