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The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is providing $6.7 million for the construction of cutting edge slaughtering and poultry housing facilities aimed at increasing backyard poultry production in Jamaica. Agriculture and Lands Minister, Roger Clarke, who made the announcement at the opening of the FAO's Regional Backyard Development Workshop today (July 24) at the Hotel Four Seasons, informed that the...

A new era is dawning for mental health care in Jamaica as the Bellevue Hospital moves to decentralise the delivery of its services and expand patient care to include the country's four Health Regions. The hospital, which is currently celebrating its 145th anniversary, is now in the midst of a transition process, and officials at the institution say that the...

Despite the promising boom for the country's micro and small business sector, many entrepreneurs are still faced with the challenges of sustaining and maintaining their small enterprises, due to a lack of capital, technical and management assistance and business education and training. In light of these challenges, the government has decided to establish small business incubators to minimise the risk...

A survey to assess the prevalence of gangs in 10 schools across the island is currently being conducted by the Safe Schools Secretariat. The survey, which began in June, is being carried out by the School Resource Officers (SROs), in collaboration with Principals and Guidance Counsellors. In an interview with JIS News, Co-ordinator for the Police in the Safe Schools...

A five-member committee has been formed in Linstead, St. Catherine to plan business strategies, so that residents in that town can capitalize on opportunities which will result from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. Addressing a Cricket World Cup community meeting at the St. Helens Catholic Church Hall in Linstead on July 20, Field Services Manager for the Social Development...

An ecumenical Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, July 30 and the Grand Independence Ball on Saturday, August 12, are among several events planned to celebrate the country's 44th anniversary of independence in New York. The church service will be held at the historic Riverside Church, at 490 Riverside Drive, Harlem, commencing at 4:00 p.m. Bishop Dr. Cecil G. Riley, senior pastor...

South Florida attorney-at-law, Marlon Hill, was recently elected to the Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board to represent the Southern United States of America (USA). Mr. Hill was one of seven Board members appointed at the second biennial National Diaspora conference held in Kingston in June, at which some 500 delegates from the United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, the Caribbean,...

As the Percy Junor Hospital in Manchester strives to become the most "customer friendly" hospital in the island, some 96 per cent of the staff has received customer service training this year. According to Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the hospital, Joan Tomlinson, the aim is to have all staff trained in this essential area so as to further...

A year into its establishment, the Internal Affairs/Anti-Corruption Division of the Professional Standards Branch (PSB) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has been meeting its mandate. This is evident by a number of gains, including the arrest of some 43 police officers on charges of misconduct, with one conviction, while another 40 cases against officers are still before the courts....

As the government continues to modernise existing laws and establish new ones in the fight against crime, National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips yesterday (May 31) pointed to a number of pieces of legislation, which he said would be brought to the Houses of Parliament during the 2006/07 legislative year. These include further amendment to the Firearm Act to introduce...

The St. Catherine Parish Council is undertaking drain cleaning works in preparation for the 2006 hurricane season, which begins tomorrow (June 1). "To date, the St. Catherine Parish council has begun its drain cleaning programme with what funds we have from the Parochial Revenue Fund," said Mayor of St. Catherine, Dr. Andrew Wheatly. He told JIS News, that the parish...

After months of negotiations, the government and unions representing public sector workers have signed the second Memorandum of Understanding (MoU 2), which places a 20 per cent cap on wage increases for the 2006/08 fiscal year. Amounts in excess of the 20 per cent would have to be approved by the Ministry of Finance and Planning.The agreement, which covers the...