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Today, we are gathered as a nation to witness not only the installation of a new Governor General, but also to participate in the creation of several historical precedents. It is the first time that a native Governor-General on his retirement presents the new holder of the position with the Instrument of Office. In addition to ensuring a seamless transition,...

I am honoured that you have all found it possible to join us for this ceremony this afternoon. For me this is both a humbling and an uplifting experience. The Office of Governor General and its historic association with Her Majesty the Queen, has a mystique of tradition as well as the symbolism of our evolution to independent statehood. Growing...

Jamaica has much for which we ought to be thankful. We have a fruitful and beautiful land, and our people have a resourcefulness, vitality and warmth that cannot be matched anywhere in the world. Over the years, I have seen phenomenal developments in housing, road infrastructure, education, land reform, health and international diplomacy. And, our successes up to this time...

The House of Representatives yesterday (Feb.14) approved the transfer of some $2.5 billion from the Capital Development Fund into the Consolidated Fund, $261 million of which will go to the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) for its Bauxite Community Development Programme (BCDP). Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, who piloted the resolution seeking the transfer of funds, explained that the...

The Ministry of Transport and Works this morning (Feb. 15) officially launched its pedestrian crossing project, which is designed to encourage increased use of crossings to reduce pedestrian deaths. The project involves collaboration with the National Works Agency (NWA) and leading global payment services company, Moneygram International, which will provide $23 million to put in new pedestrian crossings and remark...

The National Health Fund (NHF) yesterday handed over a new ambulance to the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth. Speaking at the event NHF Board Member, Raymond Brooks observed that the new vehicle would provide much needed service not only to the hospital, but also to the wider Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA). "This is all part of NHF's support...

The Manchester Chapter of the Mico Old Students Association has presented a cheque valued at $250,000 to the Mico College outreach care centre, which caters to the needs of children with learning disabilities who reside in central Jamaica. Speaking at the presentation ceremony held at Golf View Hotel recently, President of the Association, Ruddy Brown said it was his hope...

The St. Ann 4-H Club has embarked on a number of projects this year, which are geared at providing training for its clubbities as well as to boost membership within the parish. "Among the programmes that have been introduced by the 4-H is the junior leaders league, where the leaders of the various clubs are being trained to become peer...

Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, has invited Canadian businesses to consider investment opportunities in Jamaica. Minister Davies, who was speaking to members of the Canadian Jamaica Business Council yesterday (Feb. 14) at the Knutsford Court Hotel, indicated that opportunities existed for the Canadian business community to collaborate with the Jamaican government on a range of activities, including foreign...

Managing Director of the Export-Import (EX-IM) Bank, Pamella McLean, has commended the move by Dr. Andre Gordon, to take a temporary leave of absence as President of the Jamaica Exporters' Association (JEA), to tackle the problem affecting the exportation of ackee. The Bank has expressed concern about the delays being experienced by ackee processors in exporting their product. Mrs. McLean...

Chairman of the Audit Commission, Leighton McKnight today (Feb.15) encouraged internal auditors to "keep the light of scrutiny shining", as "internal audit is one of the important tenets that is going to encourage good corporate governance." Noting that the "issue of good corporate governance is very topical, not only in Jamaica, but in the rest of the world today," Mr....

Labour and Social Security Minister, Dr. Horace Dalley, has said that government would be taking steps to ensure that future productivity incentive schemes developed for Jamaican workers, including tax exemptions and benefits, would be certified by the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC). "That is where we want to go; we want to have this unit, this body, this organization, this structure...