More

Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sports, Portia Simpson Miller has said that up to December 2003, property taxes collected amounted to $1.14 billion, while motor vehicle licence fees were $668.26 million, for a grand total of $1.8 billion. She pointed out that the collections had surpassed the amount for the 2002/03 fiscal year, as some $844.93 million was...

Industry and Tourism Minister, Aloun Ndombet-Assamba has said that the opening of a new Informatics Centre in Portmore was evidence that the Government was committed to introducing policies and mechanisms to facilitate those who wanted to invest in the country. Speaking at the recent signing of the lease agreement between E-Services Group International and the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ)...

A committee has been set up to begin drafting a Cyber Crimes Bill to deal with offences over the Internet.The committee which met for the first time on March 3, comprises representatives from the Tax Assessment and Audit Department, Jamaica Customs, the Bank of Jamaica, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Finance and Planning, Justice, National Security, Commerce,...

Jamaican and Floridian public and private sector entities with similar interests will have a chance to network and expand trade opportunities at this year's Building Bridges, Florida-Jamaica Trade Mission and Partnering Fair to be held in Broward County at the Fort Lauderdale Convention centre from June 8-9.The Fair, a yearlong programme of events designed to take advantage of the historical...

Cabinet has approved Jamaica's entry into the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), which will assist in improving the country's bamboo production. Minister of Information, Senator Burchell Whiteman told journalists at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing on Monday (March 8) at Jamaica House that the country would derive several benefits from joining this organization. Citing some of the benefits,...

A case has been made for greater resources to be channeled into finding new methods of protecting women from sexually transmitted diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS, as they are more vulnerable to contracting the disease than their male counterpart. Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Jamaica, Gillian Lindsay-Nanton made the appeal while addressing an awards ceremony to commemorate International...

"Building a Commonwealth of Freedom" is the theme under which Commonwealth Day is being celebrated this year. The commemoration of this day focuses our attention on one of the important pillars of the Commonwealth, the commitment to democratic freedoms. These include, freedom of expression, respect for human rights, the rule of law, transparent and responsible government, and the promotion of...

Minister of Education, Youth and Culture, Maxine Henry-Wilson has expressed satisfaction with the education roundtable discussions held so far, with stakeholders across the island putting forward their vision for a quality education system for Jamaica. "So far, we have had some very good discussions and good participation and I am satisfied and hopeful of the outcome of these roundtable consultations,"...

The Cocoa Industry Board has spent over $2.2 million to assist 220 cocoa farmers in the rehabilitation of 291.7 hectares (721 acres) of cocoa plots island wide. Funding for the rehabilitation project was provided by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) and the Cocoa Industry Board. To date, DBJ has committed a total of $3.7 million towards the project. Three...

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture's National Policy for the Management of HIV/AIDS in schools is ready for dissemination to the island's schools. The policy, which received final approval on January 6, 2002, is aimed at instilling non-discriminatory attitudes towards persons with HIV/AIDS, whether staff or student. It also focuses on protecting the right of the individual to be...

Farmers who qualify for an approved farmer status are entitled to relief and are exempted from the payment of income tax. Director General of Tax Administration, Clive Nicholas, in reminding farmers of this provision, said the Approved Farmer Programme was introduced years ago as an incentive to encourage more persons to engage in farming activities. Addressing a recent JIS Think...

Jamaicans and other nationals seeking British citizenship will now have to take the Oath of Allegiance to the Queen and make a new loyalty pledge during special citizenship ceremonies. The first ever citizenship ceremony was held in the London borough of Brent today (February 26), with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Home Secretary, David Blunket, as...