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Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that the world food crisis has forced investment in agriculture, and is pushing consumers to accept local food options. The Minister who was speaking on (October 24), at the Alpart Community Council's Annual General Meeting, held at the company's sports club in Nain, St. Elizabeth, noted that the Government is promoting programmes...

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), is to assume responsibility for all activities relating to micro and small business development, Industry, Investment, and Commerce Minister, Karl Samuda, has announced. Speaking at a media briefing at the Ministry's New Kingston offices on October 24, Mr. Samuda said that activities at the Ministry would be restructured, to facilitate the transfer of this...

The Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC), is this year seeking to create among Jamaicans, greater awareness of the importance of productivity to the country's social and economic development. According to Executive Director of the JPC, Dr. Charles Douglas, statistics have shown that Jamaicans are still not culturally attached to the critical importance of productivity. The JPC is Jamaica's premier advisory organisation...

The current global crisis has negatively impacted Jamaica's scrap metal trade, resulting in reduced demand for the product overseas, Industry, Investment, and Commerce Minister, Karl Samuda has said. Speaking at a media briefing at the Ministry's New Kingston offices on October 24, Mr. Samuda informed that the crisis has left many dealers "stuck with products" purchased, which they are unable...

The Bank of Jamaica has announced that effective immediately, interest rates payable on Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) Certificates of Deposit has been increased. The rates that will apply to placements for tenors ranging from 30 days to 365 days are: Tenor 30 day 60-day 90-day 120-day 180-day 365-dayNew rates 14.65 14.85 15.05 15.15 15.35 16.70Previous rates 14.00 14.20 14.40 14.50...

The first shipment of 500 tonnes of fertiliser arrived in the island on October 24 from the United States, as part of the Government's move to source cheaper fertiliser for farmers. Speaking with journalists at the Kingston Wharves, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, said that 500 tonnes of fertiliser would arrive in the country every week for the next...

An Information Fair will be held for banana workers, who have been laid off due to the closure of Eastern Banana Estates in St. Thomas, on October 30, at the Golden Grove Community Centre, starting at 10:00 a.m.Some 460 banana workers are expected to be paid their redundancy cheques the following day, Friday, October 31. The fair is the first...

Mayor of Spanish Town, Dr. Andrew Wheatley, has urged residents in St. Catherine to pay their property taxes, to ensure the delivery of quality service by the St. Catherine Parish Council. The Mayor was speaking at a ceremony on October 22, at the Linstead Baptist Church, St. Catherine, to hand over 250 Certificates of Title to beneficiaries under the Land...

Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Karl Samuda, has said that consumers should begin to see a significant reduction in the prices of basic food items over the next six to eight weeks. This is based on an undertaking given by representatives of the distributive trade, with whom the Minister met at the Ministry on October 24. The meeting was convened,...

Jamaica has secured one million seats for the upcoming winter tourist season, as the Ministry of Tourism implements measures to increase airlift from existing and emerging markets. Speaking at a recent press briefing at the Ministry's offices in New Kingston, Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, pointed out that the one million seats were secured from all destinations that the sector...

Some 60 volunteers from the bauxite and alumina company, Jamalco, along with community volunteers, turned out at the Clarendon Infirmary on October 24, to effect much needed repairs. Community Relations Officer at Jamalco, Phillip Biggs, told JIS News that the initiative demonstrates the long and caring relationship that the company shares with the infirmary. He pointed out that Jamalco began...

The Recruitment Division of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF), visited Mandeville, in Manchester, on October 25, to recruit members to boost its complement. Officer in charge of recruitment, Commander Elaine Roach, told JIS News that the ISCF has a mission to "facilitate and recruit applicants between the ages of 18 and 40, with the right attitude and aptitude for...