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jamaica-country

Debt programme necessary, effective, but insufficient, says CaPRI

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Observer - THE Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI) has concluded that Jamaica cannot do without the proposed loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at this time. However, the think tank, established to promote evidence-based policy dialogue within Caribbean societies, says that, while the Government's debt reduction programme is necessary and effective, it is "insufficient" to ensure that the country gets on a path of fiscal sustainability.

UNITED STATES-CRIME-Jamaican gets temporary execution reprieve

MIAMI, CMC - A Jamaican national convicted of killing a Florida state trooper with a pipe bomb has been granted a temporary reprieve one day before he was to be executed by lethal injection. A United States federal district on Monday stayed the execution of Paul Augustus Howell, 47, allowing defense attorneys more time to appeal his case. Michael Ufferman, one of Howell’s attorneys, speculated however that prosecutors may appeal the judge’s ruling. Howell was convicted of killing Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Jimmy Fulford in February 1992.

Government responds to controversial German advertisement

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - The Government has responded to concerns surrounding the controversial advertisement by German appliance company Saturn, which includes images showing the improper handling of the Jamaican flag. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said the commercial appears to be well intentioned, as it seeks to use the powerful symbolism of Brand Jamaica to project the products and services of Saturn.

Former top cop murdered

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington has described as “shameless, heartless and senseless” the murder of retired deputy superintendent of police, Denzil Boyd, 63, who was shot and killed at his home in the Corporate Area on Sunday. The murder of the well-known former crime fighter has sparked anger among members of the police force, with the Police High Command making it clear that those responsible will be found and brought to justice.

Haiti: Jamaica’s embarrassment

KINGSTON, Jamaica - It might sound like the Jamaicanised pronunciation of the number which comes after 79, but Haiti is a historical enigma and its people are a worthy of respect, dignity and even our admiration. This is the last week in Black History Month, and it is ironic that in the 28 days given to us to come to an understanding of ourselves, we have figuratively and literally missed the boat regarding the first nation in modern history to have a black government. The Haitians are not as far from us as one thinks.

Queen has to go - It’s for Jamaicans to decide - Portia

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has reiterated the Jamaica Government’s position on shifting Jamaica further away from its neo-colonial state by putting plans in place to remove the Queen as Jamaica’s head of state. In an exclusive interview with the Jamaica Observer yesterday, Simpson Miller said that utterances by Shaun Bailey, special advisor to Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron, would not throw the island off course in its quest to move away from the monarchy.

A clean sweep and a second chance

KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE 'wipeout' of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas's first-term National Democratic Congress (NDC) Administration at Tuesday's general election in Grenada was a stunning political development that has left governance in that CARICOM state where it was some 16 years ago — without a parliamentary Opposition.

CCJ head to do UWI public lecture

KINGSTON, Jamaica - SIR DENNIS Byron, president of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), is to deliver a public lecture at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, tomorrow. Sir Dennis' lecture is the second in the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) Distinguished Lecture Series. His visit comes less than two weeks before the CCJ opens its first hearing in Jamaica to consider the Shanique Myrie matter. Myrie has taken the Barbadian government to the CCJ on allegations that she was assaulted by an immigration officer in March 2011.

An IMF lead in Jamaica: Will other Caribbean countries have to follow?

KINGSTON, Jamaica - JAMAICA'S harsh experience with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to get a new $750 million loan, signals equally harsh conditions for many Caribbean countries in the not too distant future. The burden of the tough conditions placed on Jamaica by the IMF falls entirely on the Jamaican people and Jamaican businesses.

Will the Caribbean ever hold the OAS top post?

KINGSTON, Jamaica - The foreign minister of Suriname is reported in the press as stating that his Government will neither nominate nor support Mr. Albert Ramdin, a distinguished Surinamese, for the post of secretary-general of the Organisation of American States (OAS). The minister is also reported to have said Suriname will support the Guyanese nominee for assistant secretary-general, the post which Mr. Ramdin now holds. This is a very strange position to state publicly since at this time there is no vacancy nor any formally announced candidates in either post.

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