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The Government of Jamaica and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on Monday (Feb.19) renewed a five-year agreement for the organization to retain its Caribbean headquarters in Kingston. Minister of Local Government and Environment, Hon. Dean Peart, in his remarks at the signing ceremony held at the Ministry's offices on Half-Way Tree Road, explained that under the agreement, the UNEP...

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) is reporting that over $500 million has been spent on various projects in St. Catherine. "We can report that since 1996, we have invested close to $500 million in St. Catherine alone on a variety of projects numbering over 800," said Operations Manager at JSIF, Omar Sweeney. He told JIS News that an exercise...

For the second year running, the first book by a Jamaican writer has been short listed in the Caribbean/Canada region of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize. The novel, 'The Fear of Stones' by Kei Miller, is one of six books shorted listed for Best First Book in this year's competition. Last year, Marlon James' 'John Crow's Devil' was also short-listed in...

Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips, has underscored the need for a holistic approach to fighting crime, noting that successful crime fighting needed legal, social and economic interventions. "Policing by itself, no matter how efficient, will not create the socially cohesive and economically productive society that all decent Jamaicans want. Increased opportunities for training and employment must go hand...

The St. Ann Development Company Limited (SADCo), will be hosting the Ocho Rios Cricket Village for the duration of the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) matches, which begin next month. This will be done in collaboration with the parish's Chamber of Commerce and the St. Ann chapter of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA). The launching of the village...

Senior Director of the Land Administration and Management Division in the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Dr. Mohini Kiswani is urging private landowners to implement stringent measures to prevent informal settlers from squatting on privately owned lands. In an interview with JIS News, Dr. Kiswani said that the practice of establishing squatting communities was not only illegal, but had a...

Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Hon. Roger Clarke has stressed that proper strategic planning in the agro-industry "is absolutely essential", given the kind of competition that Jamaica has to face in the global marketplace. Speaking recently at the 30th Annual Christiana Potato Growers Association general meeting, Minister Clarke noted that this approach, coupled with the use of relevant technology, such...

Cabinet has approved the award of a $69,300,000 contract (US$1,050,000) to the United States-based Starlims Corporation for the supply and installation of laboratory information systems software at the National Public Health Laboratory. "The software is being acquired under the government of Jamaica/World Bank HIV/AIDS prevention and control project and will enhance the management information system for the National Public Health...

Cabinet has approved the award of a US$4,503,098 contract for the supply and implementation of a common user Passenger Processing System for the Norman Manley International Airport. < Minister of Information and Development, Hon. Donald Buchanan made the announcement at the weekly post Cabinet press briefing held at Jamaica House on February 19. Mr. Buchanan informed that the system would...

Several proposals are being considered for the establishment of a structure to replace the Broadgate/Mahoe Hill swing bridge in St. Mary, which collapsed on February 11. This incident has resulted in the relocation of the Mahoe Hill All-age School, as the children had to use the bridge to get to the institution. Collin Morrison, Senior Communications Officer for the National...

The Japanese Embassy, under its Grass Roots and Human Security project, has signed a US$88,000 grant agreement with the Top Mountain Citizens Association, for the establishment of a fruit processing and skills training project in the St. Catherine community. Under the agreement, which was signed yesterday (Feb. 15) at the Embassy's offices on Oxford Road, Kingston, the Government of Japan...

A team of 200 health and medical personnel have been selected from a pool of 400 volunteers to assist during the staging of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. "We have selected persons based on their skills, training, and experience to put together the team for matches at both the Trelawny Multipurpose Stadium and Sabina Park. They represent a cross...