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Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has written to Opposition Leader Dr. Ken Baugh on the approach to be taken in the discussions between the Government and the Opposition in arriving at a consensus that would enable the enactment of legislation to amend portions of the Constitution. Mr. Patterson's letter comes after his statement to Parliament on Tuesday (Feb. 8) and follows...

Jamaican born Claudette J. Spence is the latest on a growing list of writers who have seen the need to document some of the important issues affecting women in today's society. A United States resident for more than 30 years, Ms. Spence has managed to effectively combine an avid interest in public policy, human development and community empowerment to achieve...

Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Desmond McKenzie has said that the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) would take action against the organizers and sponsors of events which were being held in the corporate area without the requisite approval. Mr. McKenzie disclosed that the KSAC had written to several companies, requesting that they "disassociate" themselves from any form of promotion within...

The Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank is reporting a positive development in the bank's offer to grant a period of loan repayment moratorium to its clients who suffered cash flow disruptions as a result of Hurricane Ivan, and for whom debt servicing would have been a problem. The bank has granted loan repayment moratorium to 13 of its clients for periods ranging...

The Jamaican dollar has appreciated for the first time in seven years, Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Derick Latibeaudiere reported today (February 10). According to the Governor, the weighted average selling rate of the domestic currency appreciated by 0.4 per cent in the December 2004 quarter relative to the previous quarter, reflecting the stability that has been in evidence...

The regulatory landscape in the country has changed significantly over time, with much being done to improve the welfare of the Jamaican child. According to Director of Programmes at the Child Development Agency (CDA), Winston Bowen, these changes, particularly those related to the improved Childcare and Protection Act 2004, have given more prominence to the need for the care and...

Current efforts by the government of Jamaica, aimed at preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and treating Jamaicans affected by the disease were recently outlined at a one-day seminar in New York. The meeting was organized by Jamaica Impact (JAMPACT), an advocacy and philanthropic group of young Jamaican professionals residing in the New York City area. The forum, which was held...

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (Feb. 8) approved amendments to the Coroners Act 2004, which seek to minimize delays in the procedures for coroners' inquests, and further enhance the overall administration of justice. Tabling the Bill, House Leader and National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, explained that the amendments "would take the administration of the coroners' court to a...

The Ministry of Justice and the Northern Caribbean University (NCU), have joined forces to address the need to broaden the discussions on human rights as well as to discuss the role of the justice system to protect these rights. This will be done by way of a symposium on Human rights and the Administration of Justice, at the University's Mandeville...

Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Derick Latibeaudiere has said that inflation for the March quarter was expected to be within the range of -0.8 per cent to 0.2 per cent. This is a sharp decline over the December quarter, where inflation was recorded at 6.4 per cent.Mr. Latibeaudiere, who was speaking at the quarterly press briefing held at the...

The need for building regulations to be enforced and for the monitoring of land use to reduce hazards in the event of a natural disaster, were highlighted at a special Disaster Preparedness and Public Health Committee meeting held recently at the Portmore Municipality office in St. Catherine. Regional Coordinator for the Eastern Region at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and...

Minister of State for Labour and Social Security, Senator Floyd Morris, has urged the country's workers to plan early for their retirement years, by investing in schemes other than the government pension system. "It can't be that when you reach 55 or 60, you start to plan and think about your retirement. You have to start from now if we...