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Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has stressed that the well-being of the Jamaican family must rest on a sound economic foundation. "You cannot have social development, without economic development. The two must go hand in hand. You cannot eliminate poverty without producing economic growth and removing the distortions in the economy," the Prime Minister said. Mrs. Simpson Miller was making...

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has said that the Government is shaping the future of the country by providing a safer and healthier environment for families. Making her contribution to the 2007/08 Budget Debate in the House, yesterday (May 1), Mrs. Simpson Miller cited the Soapberry Sewerage Project in St. Catherine as one such critical initiative. She informed that the...

Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, informed the House of Representatives said that the government was committed to improving the administration of justice for the benefit of all Jamaicans. "We are serious about giving the people the effective justice system to which they have a right. This will reduce the anguish of our inner-city residents, who suffer most when the system...

Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Carlton Davis has said that the creation of Executive Agencies has proven to be a huge success in the thrust to modernise the public sector. Speaking at the Human Resource Development Conference, put on by the Management Institute for National Development (MIND), at the Knutsford Court Hotel recently, Dr. Davis pointed out that, "every single executive agency...

A delegation comprising private sector leaders from Spain will visit the island this month to examine investment prospects. Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, who made the announcement during her contribution to the 2007/08 Budget Debate in Parliament yesterday (May 2) noted that during her visit to Spain earlier this year, she was given the honour of addressing the Spanish Chamber...

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has called on public servants in ministries and agencies of government to treat the public with care, respect and compassion as they carry out their duties. She noted that some public officials tended to be disrespectful to the poor and the vulnerable, a practice which must be stopped. "Respect people's time. Quality customer service says:...

Children's Advocate, Mary Clarke has added her praises for the move to abolish hospital user fees for children under the age of 18 years. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller made the announcement in her Budget Debate presentation, yesterday (May 1), indicating that children would be exempted from paying user fees at government hospitals and health facilities, except the University Hospital...

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has announced that a new Cultural Industries Council would replace the existing Entertainment Advisory Board in the Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, "with immediate effect." This should position Jamaica to tap into "one of the largest industries in the world," the Prime Minister said. Making her contribution in the 2007/08 Budget Debate in the...

With 123 road facilities since the start of the year, Executive Director of the National Road Safety Council, Paula Fletcher, has appealed to motorists to cut their speed and obey the rules of the road. The number is one less than the same period last year, when 124 persons lost their lives as a result of road accidents. Speaking with...

Commissioner of Police, Lucius Thomas, has said that the numbers for the month of April indicate that murders were trending downwards, from an increase since the start of the year. "The year 2007 did not start very well for us but we have seen downward movements in homicides," the Commissioner stated as he addressed the final of three community meetings...

Ambassador to the United States, Professor Gordon Shirley has said that the Conference on the Caribbean set for June 19-21, in Washington, would serve to strengthen and deepen the relationship between the Governments of the US and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Giving an overview at the 7th Diaspora Dialogue on the Conference of the Caribbean, at the Kelly Chapel United...

Come August 17, the government will commence a series of roundtable discussions, which are aimed at arriving at a national position on the issue of reparation. August 17, 2007 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of national hero, Marcus Garvey. Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, who made the announcement during her Budget presentation in the House of Representatives yesterday...