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Some 30 trees were planted at the Mineral Heights Primary School in Clarendon on October 3, World Tree Planting Day, as part of activities to mark ALCOA's Worldwide Month of Service, celebrated annually during October. The Jamalco team, assisted by the school's Cub Scouts, Brownies, and Environmentalists, planted the 30 trees at strategic points on the school's compound, where they...

Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, has emphasised the need for a "revival" in Jamaica, as the traditional approaches are not sufficient, to transform the society into one where individuals are able to experience life at its fullest. "I believe that the challenge we face as a country, is that the traditional ministering that the churches have done so consistently over so...

Jamaicans who require access to mental health services are being urged to utilise the services, offered by health centres and hospitals closer to their communities, as an alternative to heading straight to a mental health care facility or hospital. This appeal has come from Acting Director of the Mental Health Services at the Ministry of Health and Environment, Dr. Maureen...

Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has endorsed the South Coast Fishing Tournament, to be held at Treasure Beach in St. Elizabeth, from October 18 to 20. The Minister, who was speaking at the launch of the event on October 3, at the Sunset Resort in Treasure Beach, said fishing is an economic activity that is critical to the sustenance...

The Manchester Parish Council has commenced court proceedings to have some 27 illegally erected cellular sites in the parish removed. Reacting to concerns expressed by residents at a recent town meeting held at the Bellfield High School, Secretary Manager at the Council, Winston Palmer, said the legal process will take some time, but the law will have to take its...

During the 2007/2008 fiscal year, the National Housing Trust (NHT), exceeded its targets in all its key performance areas. These included: contribution collections; mortgage collections; housing completions; housing starts; and new mortgages. As outlined in the NHT's Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2007/08, $11. 6 billion was collected in contribution collections, four per cent in excess of the $11.2...

Jamaican High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Burchell Whiteman, was guest of honour at the opening of a major exhibition of Jamaican art for Black History Month (2009) in Haringey, England. Mr. Whiteman praised Richard Blackford, for helping Jamaica "share our story with the world", and commended Haringey Council's Black History Month programme. "It is expanding knowledge, increasing understanding and...

A value assessment of the country's existing road infrastructure is currently being undertaken, Transport and Works Minister, Michael Henry, has advised. He pointed out that the assessment, which is being financed by the French firm, Bouygues Travaux Construction Limited, developers of Highway 2000, is being undertaken by a team of environmental and technical experts at the University of the West...

An update on the financial status of the state-run Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), is expected soon. Responding to questions raised at last week's post-Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House, Transport and Works Minister, Michael Henry, said the matter was discussed with newly appointed JUTC Chairman, Robin Levy, who is being given some time to "make his own impact (assessment)"...

The National Housing Trust (NHT), reported an increase of 12 per cent, or $10.5 billion in total assets for the 2007/08 fiscal year. As contained in the NHT's Annual Report for the period, total assets for the period was $99.5 billion. In addition, housing investments of $74.5 billion accounted for 75 per cent of total assets, up from $62.6 billion...

The St. Ann Jamaica Bauxite Partners (SAJBP), has embarked on a series of community meetings, to increase the awareness of road users in the parish and educate them on defensive driving techniques. The first in the series, which was recently held at the Puerto Seco Beach car park in Discovery Bay, saw motorists and pedestrians participating fully in the session...

The National Housing Trust (NHT), during the last fiscal period 2007/2008, collected $11.6 billion in contributions, up from $9.3 billion over the last financial year. As outlined in an NHT Annual Report for the period, contributions from employers rose by 17 per cent, moving from $4.7 billion in 2007 to $5.5 billion in 2008. The document further points out that...