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Delegates from across the region are steadily pouring in for the historic PetroCaribe Summit being held at the Ritz-Carlton, Montego Bay, from September 3-6, 2005. Over thirty delegates from Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago have already arrived including two heads of delegation, the Prime Minister of Guyana, the Hon. Samuel Hinds and Montserratian Chief Minister, the...

Technical officials attending the PetroCaribe Summit, yesterday (Sept. 3) met to finalize an agenda and make recommendations for the ministerial meeting being convened today, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Montego Bay. The agenda prepared by the officials includes recommendations for the establishment of the institutional framework for the operation of the PetroCaribe Agreement signed in Puerto de la Cruz, Venezuela, on...

As of this month, the National Health Fund (NHF) will begin issuing health cards to registered seniors under the Jamaica Drugs for the Elderly Programme (JADEP) on reaching the age of 60. More than 100 seniors so far are expected to benefit from this move by the NHF. Executive Director of the National Council for Senior Citizens, Beverly Taylor, told...

A plan to develop organic agriculture in St. Thomas is currently under review by the Ministry of Agriculture and if implemented, the $4 million project is expected to revolutionize the small farming sector in the parish. According to State Minister in the Ministry of Transport and Works, and Member of Parliament for Eastern St. Thomas, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, if approved...

Jamaica's poultry industry has placed the country among the five leading countries within CARICOM with a potential for intra-regional trade in whole chicken. Jamaica is also one of four countries with an opportunity to trade in chicken parts. State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Errol Ennis made this disclosure as he addressed poultry farmers at a Jamaica Broilers awards...

The parishes of St. Thomas and St. Catherine are expected to be an integral part of the decision making process as the Ministry of Labour and Social Security begins a series of public consultations to arrive at a consensus on adjustments to the country's minimum wage next year. The first in a series of four public consultations was held in...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is appealing to parents, especially in Westmoreland, to improve their level of compliance with the PATH Programme. Just before the start of the new school year, the PATH Unit in the Ministry hosted a 'Back-to-School Jamboree' in Westmoreland, the parish which currently records the lowest compliance rate among beneficiaries. The event was held...

Ground was broken for the construction of a new National Insurance Scheme (NIS) office for the parish of St. Mary at a function in Port Maria on Wednesday, August 31. The new office will be built at Stennett Street on lands adjacent to the Port Maria Primary and Infant schools. The contract signing for the construction took place at the...

He was not born with the proverbial gold spoon in his mouth, but with hard work, dedication and enviable discipline 17 year old Covel McDermott is charting a path that can only lead to success. Recently the unwavering efforts of the aspiring young doctor copped him the Top Scholar 2005 Award offered by the Programme for Health and Advancement through...

Some 60 persons from 12 inner city communities in the corporate area inclusive of 10 police officers have completed their training in the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce's (JCC) Civic Affairs/Inner-city Development youth leadership programme. The graduation exercise which took place at the JCC's Headquarters in downtown Kingston yesterday (September 2), marked the 36th cohort of the programme under which a...

Jamaica Homecoming 2005 (JHC), a week-long celebration involving Jamaicans at home and overseas, had its New York City launch at a reception at the Jamaican Consulate, on Wednesday evening, August 31. The national project which has the blessing of the Governor General, His Excellency, the Most Honourable Sir Howard Cooke and leading private and public sector entities in Jamaica, aims...

FELLOW JAMAICANS: EVEN AS WE PREPARE FOR ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR AND RECOGNISE THE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES CONFRONTING US, WE MUST BE BUOYED BY THE FACT THAT OUR PERFORMANCE AT CERTAIN LEVELS OF THE SYSTEM IS IMPROVING. THE RESULTS OF BOTH THE GRADE SIX ACHIEVEMENT TEST AND THE CXC EXAMINATIONS SHOW MARGINAL IMPROVEMENTS. THIS IS DESPITE THE FACT THAT BOTH SETS OF...