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The application of information communication technology (ICT), to enhance governance at the corporate and national levels, is being aggressively explored at the BIZTECH 2008 Annual Conference, which got underway on October 24, at the Ritz Carlton Golf and Spa Resort in Montego Bay, St. James. The conference, which ends today (October 25), is being held under the theme - 'Telecommunications:...

Minister of Energy, Clive Mullings, and industry stakeholders have described as productive, a special meeting hosted on October 24, at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, to address concerns and to fine tune plans for the introduction of the E10 ethanol blended fuel at service stations, on November 1, 2008. "It was a very productive meeting. I think that the concerns...

Corporate Jamaica has welcomed the Government's recently introduced Special Youth Employment and Training (SYEAT) Project, which is aimed at helping to reduce unemployment among that cohort, as well as improve the country's productivity. The Project, which was launched on Wednesday, (October 22) by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, will see several companies joining forces with the HEART Trust/NTA...

Commissioner of Corrections, Major Richard Reese, informed JIS News today (Oct. 24) that the Department of Correctional Services has begun training persons to operate the monitoring of offenders system. "The first set of persons to be trained were the instructors. We are currently training the taggers and the monitors. Once that is completed then we will begin the field testing...

Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has emphasised that persons should take a holistic approach to healthy living, and adopt lifestyle practices that are positive. Addressing the launch of a Health, Home and Garden Expo, at the National Arena on Thursday, October 23, the Minister said the launch comes at a very critical point in time, as people tend to...

The Manchester Parish Council is seeking to have mined out bauxite lands brought back into agricultural production. On a recent tour of mined out areas in the parish by the Mayor of Mandeville, Councillor Brenda Ramsay, other Council members and officials from Alumina Partners of Jamaica (ALPART), the Mayor told JIS News that, "we want to come to an arrangement...

St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) recently saluted the country's National Heroes at a heritage celebration held, on the grounds of the institution. The function saw a parade of the society's various ethnic groups and performances in traditional folk dance and music from students and teachers at the school. There were also various presentations in memory of the country's National...

The Commonwealth Women's Antarctic Expedition, has selected two Jamaican women to bid for a place on an all-female expedition skiing to the South Pole next year. Kim-Marie Spence and Alecia Maragh, have been chosen to go on to the next selection phase, a two-week training camp in Scandinavia, to take place at the end of February next year. Some 25...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has said that the debt overhang, which has been put at over a trillion dollars, is having a serious effect on the country. "The debt overhang is a problem, as it robs us of the ability to adequately finance education and health care, road repairs and other infrastructure. It just robs...

For decades, tax reform has been a sought-after strategy to enhance economic growth. In fact, it is a major plank in the Government's thrust to maintain macro-economic stability, namely low inflation, a stable exchange rate, and competitive interest rates. Tax reform is said to be the process of changing the way taxes are collected and managed by Government, both in...

Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, has reported that the sector is experiencing growth and improved performance despite the economic downturn of its major markets. He noted that figures indicate that as at the end of August, there were approximately two million visitors to the island, generating more than US$1.47 billion in revenues. Minister Bartlett pointed out that the revenue earned...

Agriculture Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton has called on stakeholders to recognise the critical need to begin building local capacity to ensure the long-term viability of the sector. He stated that given what is taking place globally, there is a critical need for local farmers to take stock and begin building capacity in the sector. Dr. Tufton was addressing a European...