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The Spanish Government through its Ambassador, Jesus Silva, has proposed a new date for the state visit to Jamaica by King Juan Carlos and the Queen of Spain. The proposed dates are February 17-18, 2009 and were put forward to the Government of Jamaica following discussions yesterday (Wednesday, Nov 19) between the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Spanish Embassy. The...

The Government officially handed over the Protocol House at 1 West Kings House Road to the Leader of the Opposition in November 2008. This fulfills a campaign promise by Prime Minister Bruce Golding to grant the Leader of the Opposition a permanent residence to conduct affairs of state. The house, which was built before Independence in the 1950s, is a...

In order to remove liquidity overhang and to preserve order in the financial market, the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) has announced the implementation of two new measures. On Tuesday, November 18, 2008, the Bank offered a Special Certificate of Deposit to Primary Dealers and Commercial Banks, to mature on Wednesday, December 3, 2008. Interest payable on this instrument will be...

Dr. Derrick McKoy, Chairman of the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) has announced the appointment of Mr. David G. Miller as Executive Director. Mr. Miller assumed duties on November 1, 2008. Mr. Miller has served as General Manager and Secretary of the FTC since July 2000. In that capacity, he provided invaluable assistance to the Executive Director in the management of...

Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, has commended the Jamaican national senior football team for their courageous display in the World Cup qualifying match against Canada at the National Stadium on Wednesday. Minister Grange said she shared in the disappointment all Jamaicans feel as a result of the team's failure to advance to the final round of...

Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, this afternoon called for a suspension of the conscience voting on the death penalty until next Tuesday (Nov 25) when Parliament resumes. He was closing the debate on the death penalty. Mr. Golding proposed that when the House resumes on Tuesday (Nov 25), the matter would be put to members for a vote as its first...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Senator Dwight Nelson, has lauded the work of the country's civil servants, noting that they make an invaluable contribution to nation building. "They are the ones who are the first line of contact with the clients, with the public at large. They are the ones who have the...

Minister of Water and Housing, Dr. Horace Chang, has given his stamp of approval to a new housing model, which will see pre-cast concrete studio units with wind-cooled slab roofs, coming on the market at under $2 million. "This is a good unit, which could be used for young professionals and persons in the hotel industry," he told JIS News,...

A complex, which houses a police station and courthouse, was officially opened yesterday (Nov. 18) in the Cambridge community of St. James. A joint initiative of the Ministries of National Security and Justice, the project, undertaken at a cost of $65 million, involved the refurbishing of a 200-year old building to house the facilities. The court facility is on the...

Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP), Paula Llewellyn, has said that prosecutors must remain committed to prosecutorial ethics and evidence and not bow to public sentiments. "Prosecutors in the 21st Century have to be aware that their role is a delicate act, where they have to be sensitive to public interest while maintaining their independence in decision making. At the same...

The debate on the retention of the death penalty continued in the House of Representatives yesterday (Nov. 18), with strong views from both sides, although the arguments for, outnumbered those that were against. In a sitting that saw a total of 15 members making contributions, the common view expressed, was that steps should be urgently taken to advance the complete...

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) is urging entrepreneurs, small business interests and operators, to access the new loan facility, that is available for the micro and small business sector. Speaking with JIS News recently, Chief Executive Officer at the JBDC, Valerie Veira, pointed out that the Government has allocated a sum of $150 million to the corporation, for on-lending...