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Jamaican born textile artist and designer, Doreen Gittens has received the Black Enterprise International Business of the Year Award for 2005. Mrs. Gitten's company, Archipelago Textiles, produces exclusive hand-woven fine textiles for interior fabrics, soft furnishings and fashion garments. She told JIS news that she was very proud for being nominated and actually winning the award. "The award is very...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is reporting that the Main road to the Community of Pedro River in St Ann is currently inundated. Motorists are being asked to avoid this area. The Pedro River Flood Alert Team has been monitoring the flood gauges and has reported that the flood level has risen an additional 2 feet....

Prime Minister P. J. Patterson said that Trans Jamaica may wish to re-examine the provisions that have been made to see if any changes are required to ensure that the toll highway can withstand unusual levels of rainfall such as those experienced as a result of Hurricane Wilma. The Prime Minister said that the cost to include any such provisions...

Prime Minister P. J. Patterson and UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Jack Straw, discussed a number of issues that are of interest to both countries such as crime and the EU sugar protocol. Prime Minister Patterson expressed his appreciation for the "constancy" of the support given by the United Kingdom in the fight against crime in...

Jamaica is getting support for its position on the proposed changes to the EU sugar protocol from members of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) of the ACP-EU. The members paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Patterson this morning (Thursday October 20, 2005) at Jamaica House. Prime Minister Patterson told the parliamentarians that the EU would be making a fundamental...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is advising that Relief assistance will continue today with the distribution of food and emergency supplies to isolated and affected areas. Food will be airlifted to the communities of: WestphaliaDavid Hill/Hall's DelightTower HillContent GapLandewey/Orange/Gordon Castle New Reports of flooding are still coming into the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), from the...

Prime Minister Patterson has responded to Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bruce Golding's letter of October 9, 2005 requesting that Mr. Patterson informs him of directions that were given to the Chief of Staff regarding the operational use of the Jamaica Defence Force. In his response, the Prime Minister said that his instruction was identical to that which has been...

Outgoing Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Jamaica Limited, Dr. Vincent Lawrence has said the airline was far healthier financially and operationally than the Air Jamaica his team took over in December 2004. Speaking at a Press Conference to announce the new Air Jamaica Board yesterday (October 19), at the Ministry of Finance at Heroes Circle Offices,...

New President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Jamaica Limited, Michael Conway has said that the national carrier could return to being a reliable and competitive airline, providing on-time service. "The airline can get back to where I know it was with reliable, on-time service. I'm confident that this and the support from Jamaicans can make the airline compete...

The National Works Agency (NWA) will be increasing its disaster mitigation activities over the upcoming months. NWA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ivan Anderson speaking at the weekly JIS Think Tank session at the Agency's Half Way Tree Road Offices yesterday (Oct.19) said this response was further spurred by the many lessons learnt over the active hurricane season and the heavy...

The Early Childhood Commission is to conduct the first national survey of the number of basic schools and students in the island as it seeks to develop a national profile of the early childhood education system. Speaking in London recently, Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Maureen Samms-Vaughn said the survey would begin later this month. "What we have to do...

Regional National Training Agencies (NTAs) have bonded together to form an umbrella grouping, known as the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA). This is to ensure a uniformed level of certified skilled labour under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), which is expected to be fully implemented by 2008. Formed in 2003, CANTA has established a regional certification...