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Jamaica and the Republic of Sudan have established diplomatic relations at the Ambassadorial level. Foreign Affairs Ministers, K. D. Knight of Jamaica and Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail of the Republic of Sudan signed the relevant instrument yesterday (September 19), establishing diplomatic relations between both countries, at the office of the Permanent Representative of The Republic of Sudan to the United...

Cabinet has approved contracts to two European suppliers to continue work in the second phase of the Government of Jamaica (GOJ)/European Union (EU) Water Supply Project. This was disclosed by Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman at the weekly post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House yesterday(September 19). Minister Whiteman said Gazzina Trading in Italy has been awarded a contract valued...

Some 20 farmers in the southeastern Clarendon communities of Portland Cottage, Mitchell Town, Moores, Rosewell, Bois Content, and Hayes Savannah are currently participating in a Sheep and Goat project, aimed at improving the quantity and quality of meat stock produced locally. Parish Manager of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in Clarendon, Percival Shaw told JIS News that some 20...

Residents in some of the island's poorer communities beset with social infrastructure needs, received much needed assistance through some 185 community-based organisation projects, which were undertaken by the Social Development Commission (SDC) in the 2004/05 financial year. Director of Governance at the SDC, Richard Billings tells JIS News that while the ability to deliver almost 200 projects in tandem with...

The Government of Jamaica, through the Port Authority, has spent approximately $5 billion to strengthen maritime safety and security. This is in keeping with the international focus to thwart illegal and terrorist activities.Following the events of 9/11 when terrorists attacked the United States, very stringent measures were introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to get ports up to international...

In 1968, nearly a year before it commenced full operations at the Nain plant in St. Elizabeth, Alumina Partners of Jamaica (Alpart) donated a sum of $300,000 towards the development of a basic schools' teacher-training programme with the hope that in the long run, the training would benefit students attending institutions in the Essex Valley region of the parish. Over...

Residents of the corporate area are invited to attend the Jamaica Information Service's (JIS) annual Kingston Book Fair, which will be held at the agency's Half-Way-Tree Road head office from October 7 to 8. Patrons attending the fair will be able to purchase a range of publications on Jamaican heritage and culture inclusive of booklets, pamphlets, posters, photographs, audiocassettes, videocassettes...

Vegetable farmers across the island, who were severely impacted by Hurricane Ivan last September, could soon see increased yields, having been provided with drip irrigation systems under the Jamaica Business Recovery Programme. The programme, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), provides assistance for farmers in...

As the Rural Electrification Programme (REP) carries out its mandate to provide 100 per cent access to electricity island wide, the Programme has, since its incorporation in 1975, constructed more than 5,000 kilometres of pole lines and wired some 66,000 households. Chief Engineer of the REP, Samuel Marshall tells JIS News that in the 1970s only some 50 per cent...

As early as next year, the Justice Training Institute (JTI), which is the training agency of the Ministry of Justice, could join the growing list of tertiary level institutions that are providing international level instruction for Jamaicans. Already, plans are far advanced for the Institute to receive accreditation from the University Council of Jamaica and the National Court Reporting Association...

The Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security celebrates its 30th anniversary this month, and a number of activities have been planned to mark the milestone. Programme Director, Antonica Gunter Gayle, at a recent JIS News Think Tank, outlined the series of events to mark the anniversary, which will be observed from September 28 to...

The Social Development Commission (SDC), through its social empowerment thrust, is working with communities in Portland to help them to access funding for development projects. Among the beneficiary communities so far are Belleview, Windsor and Rock Hall. Viviene Cherrington-Bailey, Acting SDC Parish Manager, explained to JIS News that the communities have been organized into benevolent societies to make representation to...