Term Slug
jamaica-country

Celebrating with the indefatigable George Lamming

KINGSTON, Jamaica – (Today), Barbados will celebrate National Heroes Day, and highlighting the activities will be the presentation of the prestigious Clement Payne Appreciation Award to legendary Barbadian novelist, political commentator, essayist, and public intellectual, Mr George Lamming, appropriately marking the 60th anniversary of the publication of his seminal work, In the Castle of My Skin.

PJ gets Oliver Tambo award

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Jamaica's former Prime Minister PJ Patterson receiving South Africa's highest award presented to non-nationals, the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo, from President Jacob Zuma at the annual Freedom Day ceremony in Pretoria on Saturday. The Order, instituted on December 6, 2002, is awarded to foreign nationals (heads of state and governments) and other foreign dignitaries for friendship shown to South Africa. It is designated an order of peace, co-operation and active expression of solidarity and support.

Anger over South Africa award to Burnham

KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE recent decision by the South Africa Government to confer on Guyana's late President Forbes Burnham its highest national honour designated for outstanding foreign citizens- — the Oliver Tambo Award (gold) — has drawn strong criticisms from two well-known Jamaican scholars and Pan-Africanists — Dr Rupert Lewis and Dr Horace Campbell.

European Union funds to boost health sector

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The European Union is providing J$2.5 billion (One Jamaica dollar = US$0.01 cents) in grant funding to boost the delivery of maternal and paediatric health care in public health institutions in Jamaica. Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson said the allocation is expected to further advance the government’s efforts to meet the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for significant improvements in these two key areas. Dr.

Will Trinidad and Tobago lead the Caribbean?

KINGSTON, Jamaica - THERE is an unfortunate pride that is linked to owning national airlines in the Caribbean. It is a pride that goes before a fall. Successive Jamaican governments held on to Air Jamaica although the airline bled money and depended heavily on massive financial support from taxpayers. The taxpayers' money could have been used to finance sustainable projects that would have created and maintained employment and generated revenues. But in the minds of decision-makers in successive Jamaican governments, keeping Air Jamaica flying was important for national pride.

Chris Gayle can save Test cricket

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Chris Gayle's astonishing 175 not out in the IPL is still being widely talked about. The innings itself is astonishing enough: 175 from 66 balls with 17 sixes is unheard of, and the admission by Chris that he "slowed down" in the middle is mind-boggling.
We celebrate the innings and, indeed, the man now, but the real significance of what Chris Gayle and his flashing blade might come to mean for cricket down the road might be lost on most of us.

Opposition calls for talks with Caribbean Airlines

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - The opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has called on the government to have dialogue with Caribbean Airlines (CAL) about the reduction of flights to Jamaica. Edmund Bartlett, Opposition Spokesman on Tourism, in his contribution to the 2013/2014 Budget Debate on Wednesday said he is worried about the implications for the country, as last year, CAL accounted for 50 percent of flights to the Norman Manley International Airport and 10 percent at the Sangster International. Bartlett wants Tourism Minister, Dr.

China is Jamaica’s next big tourism market

KINGSTON, Jamaica - The discussion about increasing and sustaining economic growth in Jamaica must recognise that tourism will be the engine of economic growth in both the short and medium terms.
In the context of the downturn in the world economy, the tourism sector has done well, as is evident in the steady annual increase in the number of visitor arrivals, resulting in much needed foreign exchange, taxes and employment.

Ecuador to open embassy in Kingston

KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE GOVERNMENT of Ecuador has expressed its intention to establish an embassy in Kingston, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade A.J. Nicholson has disclosed. Nicholson made the announcement while addressing the Rotary Club of St Andrew meeting at Hotel Four Seasons on Tuesday. Nicholson, while admitting that his Government has welcomed the proposal, said the country could reap significant benefits from such a move.

EDITORIAL - Give details for the June IMF test

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Jamaica, for all practical purposes, has an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It will be merely formalised by the fund's executive board at their meeting on May 1.
So, the fiscal programme being pursued by the Government for the financial year that started on April 1 is predicated on the terms of the US$958 million extended-fund facility. In that regard, the Government will face the first quarterly performance tests under the agreement at the end of June - in less than three months' time.