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Some 300 customs officers are being trained to bolster border control operations, as the island prepares to host the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. The Jamaica Customs Department has allocated some $6 million for this training exercise, which will include enhancing the customer service capabilities of customs officers. Deputy Commissioner in charge of operations at the Jamaica Customs Department,...

A series of national consultations on, 'The Professionalization of Youth Development Work in Jamaica', was launched in the Montego Bay Civic Centre, Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, today (January 18). The Montego Bay consultation is the first of three, which will be held across the island, hosted by the National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD) and the National Council on...

Founder and Artistic Director of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC), Professor Rex Nettleford is slated to be the guest speaker at the 19th Annual International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) Conference to take place in Toronto, Canada, from January 18 to 21. The four-day conference will be held under the theme, 'Widening the Sphere: Taking An Expansive View...

The House of Representatives yesterday (January 16), approved a Resolution to designate Insurance Brokers and Insurance Intermediaries as financial institutions for the purpose of the Money Laundering Act. Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance and Planning who moved the Money Laundering (Financial Institutions) (Insurance Brokers and Insurance Intermediaries) Resolution 2006, pointed out that Jamaica was a signatory to the mutual...

The House of Representatives yesterday (Jan. 16) approved the withdrawal of $2.5 billion from the Capital Development Fund (CDF) to be paid into the consolidated fund, to provide budgetary support for the 2006/07 financial year. The withdrawal was made under the Bauxite (Production Levy) Act. Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies, explained that the amount represented the second...

A cocktail reception was hosted by the Jamaican Embassy in Washington on January 11 to honour four newly elected United States (US) Government officials with ties to Jamaica. The four persons honoured were: Mayor of the District of the Columbia, Adrian M. Fenty, son of a Jamaican; Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, daughter of Jamaican parents and the first Jamaican elected to...

Three hundred and fifty-six (356) of the 1,097 proposals received for projects under the $600 million Beautification Programme, have been selected and approved for implementation. Among the selected projects, which are scheduled to commence during the course of the week are works in Ewarton, St. Catherine; Mandeville, Manchester; Black River in St. Elizabeth and the main corridors in East Kingston...

A Bill to allow the linking of service in the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), was passed in the House of Representatives yesterday (January 16). The legislation will facilitate pension payments to officers who have served in both arms of the Force. State Minister for Finance and Planning, Fitz Jackson, who piloted the Act...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier has hailed the Overseas Employment Programme for providing economic opportunities for thousands of Jamaican workers and their families over the years. Delivering the main address at the 86th Joint Meeting of the Regional Labour Board and United States Employers of Caribbean Workers at the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club in Montego...

The Jamaica Local Organising Committee (LOC) yesterday (Jan. 16) unveiled a promotional song and pin as part of its publicity blitz for the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007. Executive Director of the Jamaica LOC, Robert Bryan, in his remarks at the launch held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, said that the publicity campaign, called 'Jamaica Proudly Hosting the World,...

Consultant for the Enhancement of Basic Schools Project (EBSP), Janet Brown, has said that the early childhood regulations, which comes into effect this year, were designed to benefit all stakeholders in the sector, primarily the children. The regulations, which come under the Early Childhood Act 2005, require that all institutions are registered and set new standards of service and quality...

The Rotary Club of Port Antonio will be sponsoring an eye clinic in Port Antonio from Monday, January 22 to Thursday, January 25 for the purpose of conducting eye surgeries on needy persons, free of cost. The clinic, which will be held at 28 Harbour Street in Port Antonio, will be implemented in close collaboration with the Kingston Public Hospital...