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Due to the frequency of natural disasters, this year, the Bureau of Women's Affairs will celebrate International Women's Day on March 8 by focusing on preparing women for natural disasters. The theme for this year's celebration is: 'Preparing Women for Disasters: A Gendered Approach to Natural Hazard Risk Reduction' and will include an opening ceremony and workshop at the Jamaica...

The government has agreed to waive the 25.83 per cent duty on imported cement. Importers can now take advantage of the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET) rate of 15 per cent, which is applicable on cement imports up to August 30. Commerce, Science and Technology Minister, Phillip Paulwell, who made the announcement at a press conference held at his offices...

Wife of the Governor-General, Her Excellency, Rheima Hall, said today that the celebration of Women's Day was most fitting for Portia Simpson Miller, first female Prime Minister designate, and Professor Elsa Leo-Rhynie, first female Principal of the University of the West Indies. "We are celebrating the breaking of the glass ceiling by two outstanding Jamaican women being elected and appointed...

The Government has reduced its 2005/06 budget by $877 million, reflecting an increase of $2.28 billion on the Recurrent side, and a $3.15 billion reduction in the Capital expenditure. These figures are contained in the First Supplementary Estimates for the financial year, which were tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday (March 7), by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr....

Government and trade unions representing public sector employees, should by the start of next month, arrive at an agreement for a revised memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the sector. State Minister for Finance and Planning, Fitz Jackson, who made the disclosure in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (March 7), said that discussions were ongoing on the revised agreement, which...

Senior trainer with the Peace and Love in Society (PALS) programme, Norma Rochester, is urging Jamaicans to have faith in the work being done by the organization to bring back peace to the nation's schools. Ms. Rochester, who was speaking with JIS News at a peace concert initiated by PALS at the August Town Primary School yesterday (March 7), to...

Jamaican national and banking executive, Tanya Ragbeer, was returned as President of the Greater Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce at the 12th annual installation banquet held recently in Fort Lauderdale. Mrs. Ragbeer, who was unanimously elected to serve a consecutive second term, is the second woman to head the 11-year-old organization. Lisa Narcisse, a South Florida businesswoman and also a...

The House of Representatives has approved amendments to the Interception of Communications Act, which will allow law enforcement officials to intercept the communication of suspected criminal offenders, without a court order, for a period of up to seven days. Leader of Government Business and National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, who piloted the Bill, informed the House that the changes...

The accident and emergency ward at the Black River Hospital has been officially reopened after a $51 million upgrading and refurbishing programme. The project was undertaken over a two-year period through funding from the National Health Fund (NHF) and the Health Support Fund (HSF). In his address at the opening ceremony, chief medical officer at the hospital, Dr. John McRae,...

Chairman of the National Investment Bank of Jamaica and former Group Managing Director of the National Commercial Bank Mr. Aubyn Hill, will close the final in a panel discussion series hosted by the Cabinet Office on Thursday March 9th when he undertakes an analysis of the developments in Jamaica's physical and social infrastructure and the linkages that have been created...

Venue Development Manager of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup, Christopher Smith has said that all development works on the Greenfield Cricket Stadium in Trelawny were presently on target, with the greater portion of the work now ahead of schedule. Mr. Smith said the work teams were aiming to complete the project ahead of time in November 2006....

The three-year economic and technical cooperation agreement between the governments of Jamaica and the People's Republic of China, has redounded to the benefit of residents of the Sligoville in St. Catherine, said Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman. The cooperation arrangement was initiated in 2003 and is estimated to value US$7.2 million in grant funding and US$2.5 million of loan funding,...