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State Minister for Industry and Tourism, Dr. Wykeham McNeill said today that with the rebound of the tourism sector, there was heightened focus on development issues related to tourism, particularly in poorer destinations. He said there was also greater recognition of both the widespread socio-economic ramifications and potential of the sector. Dr. McNeill was speaking at the opening of JAMPRO's...

The National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET) is to certify at least 100,000 Jamaicans as skilled workers in various competencies within the next three years. In an interview with JIS News, Paulette Dunn Smith, Senior Director of NCTVET said research conducted by the organisation had revealed that while Jamaica's workforce comprised "just under one million persons,...

The Ministry of Health has embarked on a Cheerleading Programme, geared at raising the level of health awareness and encouraging healthy lifestyle practices among adolescents between 12 and 19 years of age in the nation's high schools. To this end, a North East Regional Health Cheerleading Competition will take place on Thursday, February 24 at the St. John's Anglican Church...

The Mexican Embassy has reported that the Jamaican students who are currently in Mexico to take up scholarships awarded by that government are settling in well, with their main concern being the language barrier. Twelve students are enrolled in the National Autonomous University of Mexico, on the Taxco campus, where they are enrolled in Spanish language courses, before commencing school...

The Salt Savannah Primary and Infant School in South Eastern Clarendon is bouncing back from the ravages of Hurricane Ivan, through assistance from the Oxford Family (Oxfam) organization of London with a contribution of J$540,000. In a JIS News interview Principal, Beverley Hall explains that the assistance involves the rehabilitation of the sanitary facilities including the construction of seven sanitary...

Development Minister Dr. the Hon. Paul Robertson has disclosed that the development projects to be undertaken in the 2005/06 financial year will generate over 27,800 jobs. The Minister was updating the Cabinet at the two-day Cabinet Retreat which began yesterday (Feb. 21) at Jamaica House. In giving a breakdown of the projects and employment generation prospects, the Minister said that...

Two United Nations specialists, Ms. Maarit Kohonen and Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, are among the diverse, high-powered panel of presenters slated for the human rights symposium, "Justice, Truth and Accountability," to be held on February 22 and 23, 2005 at the Northern Caribbean University. Ms. Kohonen, representing the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, is scheduled to...

The Government will draft a new Bill to establish the Caribbean Court of Justice in its original jurisdiction. Prime Minister P.J. Patterson made the disclosure in his opening remarks at the two-day Cabinet retreat which began on Monday (Feb. 21) at Jamaica House. At the recently concluded Inter-sessional Meeting in Suriname, CARICOM Heads approved two amended Protocols to the Revised...

Jamaica's Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, Phillip Paulwell, has been recognized by the editors of U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology Magazine as one of the 50 Most Important Blacks in Technology for 2005. Mr. Paulwell was one of a few non-Americans to make the list, which was initially announced in January, and received his award at the conclusion...

Just over $142 million has been spent by the Ministry of Local Government to rehabilitate 26.7 kilometres (km) of parochial roads in Clarendon. The roads were officially re-opened last Friday (February 18), by Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sports, Portia Simpson Miller. Speaking at the dedication ceremony at Coxwain Road in North Central Clarendon, Minister Simpson Miller said...

Business Development Manager at JAMPRO, Lisa Bell has emphasized that it was very important for companies operating in sub-sectors that support tourism, to be cognizant of the imminent changes in the hotel sector, and the challenges and opportunities they would bring. It is to this end that JAMPRO will be hosting a two-day tourism business linkages seminar on February 22...

A musical, 'The Big Life', which traces the trials and fortunes of a group of West Indian immigrants to the United Kingdom, who arrived on the Windrush in the early 1950s, is being staged by the Theatre Royal Stratford East in London. Described as a feel-good ska musical, 'The Big Life' transports the plot of Shakespeare's 'Love's Labour's Lost' to...