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The Canadian Friends of St. Thomas Healthcare organization, which should have conducted a one-week eye clinic at the Princess Margaret Hospital in St. Thomas from July 25 to 29, has postponed its trip to January 2006. Chairman and Public Relations Officer of the organization, Dan Williamson, told JIS News that the group was advised to do so by hospital officials...

Jamaica's Consul General to New York, Dr. Basil K. Bryan has called on Jamaicans in the Diaspora to help with the development of the education sector. According to the Consul General, education was essential for Jamaica to meet its 21st Century development goals. "Let us not think that we have to do the big things. We can do the small...

Measures are being put in place by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) to have tighter security and to streamline the activities at the annual staging of the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show to be held from July 30 to August 1 at the showgrounds in Clarendon. Kingsley Clarke, First Vice President of the JAS told JIS News that changes have...

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) 'Best of Festival' gets underway today (July 25) and will last until Friday, July 29, at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Kingston. Speaking at a recent JIS 'Think Tank', Executive Director of the JCDC, Marcia Hextall said the event, which begins at 7:00 p.m. nightly, would feature this year's gold medal winners from...

As members of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) meet in Kingston this week for the annual review and planning workshop, Minister of Agriculture Roger Clarke, is charging the Institute to find ways to improve agricultural production in Caribbean economies, to ensure the region's competitiveness on the world market. The Minister, who was addressing the opening ceremony of...

Inventors and innovators are being asked to submit their creative work to the first biennial National Innovations Awards for Science and Technology. Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, Phillip Paulwell officially launched the competition today (July 25) at the Ministry's Trafalgar Road offices in Kingston. The awards are targeted at the private sector companies, community groups, academic institutions and persons,...

The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) has embarked on a public education drive, aimed at better equipping the public to deal with issues relating to that organization. Officers of the company have already visited the parishes of Portland, St. Mary and Manchester, and will be at the Inland Revenue Department in Montego Bay, St. James from Tuesday, July...

Ground has been broken in the Old Harbour Bay community of St. Catherine for the construction of a new housing scheme by the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR) in partnership with the Government of Venezuela, to relocate 120 persons who were severely affected by Hurricane Ivan last September. The ground-breaking ceremony took place on Thursday (July 21) in the Bourkesfield...

Preparations for Portland's participation in the annual Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show are in high gear as the parish's farming community works feverishly to make an impressive show at the event, which will be held, from July 30 to August 1. Planning for the parish's participation is being spearheaded by the Portland Denbigh Show Committee, which comprises representatives of the...

The Montego Bay Street People Programme, operated under the auspices of the St. James Parish Council's Poor Relief Department, will receive a big boost, with the acquisition of a 2001 Toyota Hiace Mini Bus valued at $1.07 million. The vehicle was purchased with funds allocated by the Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Sport and will soon be officially...

The coconut industry like many others is vulnerable to the predicted active hurricane season, which has already manifested itself in the form of Hurricanes Dennis and Emily, and measures are therefore being implemented to protect coconut growers and the industry against the possibility of extensive losses. Director of Research at the Coconut Industry Board (CIB), Basil Been tells JIS News...

Farmers in the parish of St. Ann are being encouraged to practice low cost land husbandry throughout this hurricane season, as this will reduce the risk of major agricultural losses. Parish Manager for the St. Ann branch of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Pedro Worghs, told JIS News that the passage of hurricanes, Dennis and Emily, had resulted in...