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School attendance in the North West Clarendon constituency is at an all time high, said Member of Parliament for the area, Richard Azan. Mr. Azan, who was making his contribution to the 2005/06 Sectoral Debate in Gordon House on Tuesday (May 31), said the improvement in the attendance levels could be attributed to the introduction of a school feeding initiative,...

Following Cabinet's approval of the Jamaican Policy Against Doping in Sport on May 16, the 52-page document was tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday (May 31). The policy provides the basis for Jamaica's anti-doping programme and consists of the general principles, rules and standards for national sports federations, their affiliate members, clubs, teams, associations or leagues; national leagues not...

The Jamaica Coalition on the Rights of the Child (JCRC) will be launching two books, which seek to promote the protection of the rights of children.The launch will take place at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville this Friday, June 3, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Executive Director of JCRC, Carol Samuels told JIS News that the activity formed part of...

The Northern Jamaica Conservation Association (NJCA), has embarked on an environmental education project. The project, supported by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ), CHASE Fund, St. Ann Chamber of Commerce and Macmillan Caribbean, is aimed at beautifying the town of Ocho Rios with artwork in an attractive, long-lasting format that will promote appreciation and conservation of the natural environment. Environmentalist...

The 2005 staging of the Calabash literary festival, has been touted as a huge success, with the staging of the event last weekend in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth described as the best ever in the festival's five year history. Principal Organiser of the event, Justine Henzell told JIS News, that there was vast improvement in the "on the ground organisation"...

Head of the Environmental Unit at the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI), Worrell Lyew-You, has said that bauxite companies have been complying with the required standards as it relates to the level of dust emission in the environment. According to Mr. Lyew-You, dust nuisance was the main complaint from persons living in bauxite communities, but through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)...

A report submitted to Cabinet has identified obesity and its related conditions as the leading cause of death and poor health among Caribbean nationals. This was noted by Minister of Information, Senator Burchell Whiteman at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, yesterday (May 30). The Minister told journalists that Cabinet was furnished with a presentation detailing the risks...

Jamaicans in South Florida are now able to view programmes of national interest about their homeland on local television channels in Dade and Broward counties. Produced by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) in Kingston, the programmes are aired weekdays at 7:30 p.m. on COMCAST TV in both counties - Channel 19 in Dade, and Channel 76 or 79 in Broward....

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, Dr. Donald Rhodd has reiterated government's determination to eradicate illiteracy from the society. This goal, he noted, was necessary if the country is to successfully confront challenges and place itself on the cutting edge of the global economy.Dr. Rhodd was delivering the main address at the official launch of...

Minister of Information, Senator Burchell Whiteman has disclosed that Cabinet has given the go-ahead to award a contract valued at $67 million (US$1.09 million) to a Belgium company, JAN DE NUL, to dredge the dock at Petrojam. Speaking at the weekly post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House yesterday (May 30), the Information Minister said the contract has been approved...

Cabinet has approved the compulsory acquisition of privately owned properties in Kingston to enable the Ministry of Water and Housing to provide security of tenure for its occupants. The properties, located at 62 Molynes Road, 100 Red Hills Road, 8 Cedar Valley Road (Stanville), and 85 Waltham Park Road, will be purchased at a cost of $21,425,000, through financing from...

Changes to transfer tax rates on estates at death, become effective tomorrow (June 1), as announced by Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. Omar Davies during his budget presentation in Parliament in April. As a result, at death there will be no tax on the first $100,000.00 value of the estate to be transferred. Thereafter, amounts over $100,000.00 will be at...