Building a Better Jamaica - Jamaica Gleaner Stories

Failure to send children to school, Parents could face penalties

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:40:04 +0000

Release Date:

Monday, September 6, 2010

Published: Monday | September 6, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner

Schools start reopening their doors today and, although many parents will send their children to school, very early in the first term attendance will drop. But parents who fail to send their children to school could end up in serious trouble.

Both the Education Minister Andrew Holness and the Office of the Children's Registry are brandishing the Child Care and Protection Act (CCPA) under which parents could face strict penalties. The minister is also waving the Education Act before them.

Nelson's dangerous Hollywood path

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:37:32 +0000

Release Date:

Monday, September 6, 2010

Published: Monday | September 6, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner Send feedback to thegavel@gleanerjm.com

So Senator Dwight Nelson, the minister of national security, says legislators will soon be asked to deal with a proposed anti-gang law which will make the recently passed draconian anti-crime package look like Sunday school text.

The Gavel is mindful that Nelson has been known to make these Hollywood-type statements which makes us fearful that, like his comments on 'collateral damage', this too may come to pass.

Government joining hands with Church for school lands

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:33:25 +0000

Release Date:

Monday, September 6, 2010

Published: Monday | September 6, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

The Church, which for many years was the foundation of education in Jamaica, is looking to get back into the building of schools, this time in partnership with the Government.

This is in keeping with the mandate of the education ministry's National Education Trust (NET) to promote private-public sector partnership investment in infrastructure building and development.

Gov't promises new payment plan for nurses

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:01:45 +0000

Release Date:

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Published: Sunday | September 5, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner

With normality restored to the health sector, Cabinet is slated to discuss a new payment plan for nurses when it meets tomorrow.

Members of the Nurses' Association of Jamaica (NAJ) yesterday ended a two-day protest action after a meeting on Friday with Minister of Labour Pearnel Charles, Health Minister Rudyard Spencer, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour Andrew Gallimore.

Samuda hits back at Wilson ... But senior officer stands with defiant cop

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:49:06 +0000

Release Date:

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Published: Saturday | September 4, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner

TWO DAYS after head of the Police Federation peppered the Bruce Golding-led administration at its annual conference, General Secretary of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Karl Samuda yesterday hit back with a scathing broadside against Sergeant Raymond Wilson.

Samuda's response comes on the third anniversary of the JLP's victory at the polls.

Condemning the statements made by Wilson, the JLP general secretary said his comments were a "shameful display of political bias and unprofessionalism".

G2K dodges Manatt issue, wants answers on DB&G deal

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:35:09 +0000

Release Date:

Friday, September 3, 2010

BY ERICA VIRTUE Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, September 03, 2010

GENERATION 2000 (G2K), the young professional affiliate of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), yesterday deflected questions about the party's role in the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips affair, and instead called on the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) to answer questions about a deal over which the Office of Contractor General (OCG) has raised eyebrows.

A flower blooms in St Andrew - Marigold Harding sworn in as custos

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:58:02 +0000

Release Date:

Friday, September 3, 2010

Published: Friday | September 3, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner

Courtesy of Jamaica Gleaner

The usually pristine lawns of King's House were freshly trimmed as dapperly dressed guests took their seats.

The distinguished guests turned out on a typical September afternoon in the tropics to see the installation of Marigold Harding as the new custos rotulorum for St Andrew. She takes over from Bishop Carmen Stewart, who served 18 years in the post.

Golding to meet with private sector today

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:29:01 +0000

Release Date:

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Published: Thursday | September 2, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com

Prime Minister Bruce Golding is slated to meet with several private-sector leaders this morning to provide answers to their questions on the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips affair.

Private-sector leaders had submitted six questions to Golding in the wake of a Sunday Gleaner exposé on the emails shared by Solicitor General Douglas Leys, local attorney Harold Brady and the American law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.

'We are not fighting the media'

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:27:06 +0000

Release Date:

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Published: Thursday | September 2, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com

The Government has moved to clear the air about its position on the local media in the wake of growing unease following recent comments by Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

On Sunday, Golding used a political platform to suggest that sections of the media, and in particular The Gleaner, were working with other groups in pushing a propaganda line while ignoring the facts about the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips affair.

Cabinet moves to nullify Pratt and Morgan

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:25:13 +0000

Release Date:

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Published: Thursday | September 2, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com

The Cabinet has approved amendments to the proposed Charter of Rights to reverse the effects of the Privy Council's ruling in the Pratt and Morgan case.

Details of the changes have not yet been made public but they are designed to nullify the 1993 Privy Council ruling that held that persons could not be executed if they remained on death row for more than five years.

JLP supporters back Bruce

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:35:06 +0000

Release Date:

Monday, August 30, 2010

Published: Monday | August 30, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters yesterday voiced loud and clear support for their embattled leader, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who is facing calls for his resignation over his handling of the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips affair.

"You nah resign. You nah leave," declared several JLP supporters from across the Corporate Area as Golding addressed a meeting of the party's Area Council One in Papine, St Andrew.

Let Manatt go

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:30:37 +0000

Release Date:

Monday, August 30, 2010

Published: Monday | August 30, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has gone on the offensive while suggesting that critics of his handling of the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips issue have been unfair, unkind and political.

According to Golding, the critics, which he implied include sections of the media, are seeking to detract from the achievements of his administration.

Jamaica welcomes one-millionth visitor

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:14:05 +0000

Release Date:

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Published: Sunday | August 29, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

Courtesy of Jamaica Gleaner

WESTERN BUREAU:

Despite Edmund Bartlett's hope of two million stopover visitors by year end not materialising, the tourism minister is forecasting tourist arrivals will close out at 1.9 million for 2010, four per cent more than last year's figure.

Government pushes to increase onion production

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:08:11 +0000

Release Date:

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Published: Saturday | August 28, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner

Despite the challenges in the agricultural sector, there is still a ray of hope for Jamaican farmers.

This, as the ministry steps up its initiative to increase onion production to satisfy local demand of approximately 12,000 tonnes annually, and cut the US$4 million spent yearly to import the crop, to US$2 million, by 2013.

"Last year, we produced 721 tonnes, that is approximately six to seven per cent of overall production that we were able to produce locally.

Another gift of life - More children to get heart surgery

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:02:57 +0000

Release Date:

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Published: Saturday | August 28, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner Nadisha Hunter, Gleaner Writer

Courtesy of Jamaica Gleaner

A cardiac ward, which will accommodate more than 200 children annually, is to be developed at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed yesterday between the Ministry of Health, Gift of Life Rotary District 7020, and other entities, for the development of the sustained cardiac programme.

Jamaica aces IMF test - More than J$4b available for drawdown as the country meets targets

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:53:24 +0000

Release Date:

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Published: Saturday | August 28, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

Jamaica has aced the second International Monetary Fund (IMF) quarterly test despite unplanned expenditure related to the west Kingston incursion and emergency spending in the health sector.

Local officials have been forced to tweak the Letter of Intent with the IMF to reflect the additional spending.

Cane farmer probe - AG asked to audit private group

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:02:30 +0000

Release Date:

Friday, August 27, 2010

Published: Friday | August 27, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner mark.titus@gleanerjm.com

The agriculture minister Christopher Tufton has requested a full audit of the finances of All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers Association (AIJCFA) in face of a recent consultants' report that authoritative sources say indicate that organisation may be close to bankruptcy and incapable of fulfilling its mandate in a reorganised sugar industry.

The AIJCFA is estimated to have debts of approximately J$112 million, with insufficient inflow of cash to meet its obligations.

Special school for rude kids

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:00:17 +0000

Release Date:

Friday, August 27, 2010

Published: Friday | August 27, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner - Nadisha Hunter

A special facility for students displaying behavioural problems in the regular school system is to be opened in January.

Education Minister Andrew Holness made the announcement at the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, on Wednesday.

He said the special school was designed to deal with students whose behaviour cannot be managed by school administrators.

Approximately 250 students who display behavioural problems are in the system each year.

Jailhouse crisis

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:56:49 +0000

Release Date:

Friday, August 27, 2010

Published: Friday | August 27, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com

The Government is contemplating the establishment of a new lock-up facility at Up Park Camp, St Andrew, in the face of unprecedented overcrowding in all police lock-ups across the island, The Gleaner has learnt.

A reliable source said the Government intends to fast-track its plans as cells across the island are bursting at the seams.

Time for renewal on Darling Street

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:53:45 +0000

Release Date:

Friday, August 27, 2010

Published: Friday | August 27, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com

Courtesy of Jamaica Gleaner

The torched police station at Darling Street, in the heart of the downtown commercial district, nudged painful memories of the bloody unrest three months ago that left the symbol of law and order blackened and deserted.