Author: jamaicapage

Electricity Coverage in Jamaica close to 100%
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Electricity Coverage in Jamaica close to 100%

Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says electricity coverage across Jamaica currently stands at approximately 97.5 per cent. Speaking at the St. Andrew Rotary Club’s 2012/13 installation banquet held recently at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, Mr. Paulwell said the high level of coverage is a significant achievement when compared to “some countries with huge oil deposits that are nowhere near that figure”. He said the success is partly attributable to the Government’s Rural Electrification Programme (REP), which has facilitated the provision of electricity to some 74,000 homes, since its inception in 1975. He informed that some 32,000 homes received electricity within the last decade. Noting that nearly one-third of all Jamaicans were without ...
Region must place high priority on Disaster Management
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Region must place high priority on Disaster Management

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, says the region must place high priority on the issue of disaster management. He noted that the Caribbean region is considered to be the second most disaster prone in the world, and revealed that for Jamaica alone, it is conservatively estimated that for the past 10 years, the country has lost $14 billion annually, dealing with damage caused by impact of hazards, such as hurricane and floods. The Minister pointed out that this is more than the capital budget of many government departments. Mr. Arscott, who is the incoming Chair of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Council of Ministers, was speaking at the opening ceremony and cocktail reception for the third meeting of the Council of the ...
Diaspora Urged to Invest in Jamaica
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Diaspora Urged to Invest in Jamaica

Minister of State for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, is urging overseas nationals to look to the island for investment opportunities. Delivering the keynote address at the biennial Jamaica Diaspora North East United States (US) conference held on June 16 at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Boston, Mrs. Folkes-Abrahams cited prospects in information technology, tourism, health tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing. She said the government is well aware that the majority of the estimated two million Jamaicans were living overseas, mainly in the United Kingdom (UK), Canada and the US, wanted to make an even greater contribution to the social and economic development of the country, and is fully committed to taking decisive policy action to address the un...
Jamaica:The Sprint Factory – Video Feature by CBC Sports
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Jamaica:The Sprint Factory – Video Feature by CBC Sports

Stephanie Jenzer of CBC's The National has produced a wonderful feature titled "The Sprint Factory" in which she takes an close look Jamaica to find out why we produce so many of the worlds fastest sprinters. She notes that Jamaica currently owns just about all the 100m titles in the work at the Olympic, World Champion and Junior level. She also follows 2 Jamaica College athletes as they compete at Champs. Hats off to Stephanie and the CBC team on a wonderful feature that is a must see for all Jamaicans and fans of Jamaican sprinting.
Bank of Jamaica to release special 50th Anniversary Notes
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Bank of Jamaica to release special 50th Anniversary Notes

The Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) officially launched its special series of 50th anniversary commemorative banknotes Wednesday June 19, in celebration of the country's Golden Jubilee. Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, who spoke at the event, said the notes are not only being launched to celebrate the 50th year of Jamaica's political independence, but "we are also witnessing the launch of a new generation of banknotes. These banknotes are not just decorated pieces of paper, or the standard kind you'd see go through the cash counters at a bank branch, but are important payment instruments that also symbolise our sovereignty, our nationhood, the natural diversity of our country and our people, and our journey as an independent country." Dr. Phillips said Jamaica's curr...
Jamaica Beat Guatemala 2-1 in World Cup Qualifying Match
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Jamaica Beat Guatemala 2-1 in World Cup Qualifying Match

Demar Phillips and Ryan Johnson scored either side of halftime as Jamaica opened its World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win over Guatemala on Friday. Phillips opened the scoring for Jamaica in the 40th minute before Johnson extended the lead in the first minute after halftime. Guatemala substitute Dwight Pezzarossi scored in stoppage time for the visitors at National Stadium. Jamaica coach Theodore Whitmore said he was thankful to take away maximum points from the match: "We got three points from this and that is the most important thing.'' Jamaica will next travel to Antigua and Barbuda, which lost 3-1 to the United States earlier Friday.
Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce  featured on NBC’s Rock Center
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Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce featured on NBC’s Rock Center

She’s already one of the fastest women on the planet, but Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce hopes to make history as the fastest at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. “The thing with success is, when you get it you want it,” Fraser-Pryce told Rock Center with Brian Williams. “I think that the last couple of years have actually made me more hungry than I was, and now that I realize my potential and I realize that I can do so much … once I push myself to the limit, maybe I can do that much better.” Fraser-Pryce, 25, won the Olympic gold medal at the 2008 summer games in Beijing, China, where she crushed her competition in the 100-meter race. Her winning time –10.78 seconds – was the fastest winning time since 1988. She was also the first Jamaican woman to win gold in the 100 meter dash. Fra...
NEPA Embarks on Sustained Programme to Protect Biodiversity
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NEPA Embarks on Sustained Programme to Protect Biodiversity

As part of efforts to protect and preserve the country's coastal and marine biodiversity, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has embarked on a sustained programme to better manage these resources. This was stated by Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, in a message read by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Genefa Hibbert, at NEPA’s Open Day function, held at its Head Office, in Kingston, Tuesday May 22. The Minister said this new approach includes: routine monitoring of coral reefs; revision of existing coastal policies; and actions and plans, as well as specific interventions to reverse the effects of climate change at risk-prone communities across the island. “Through these programmes, it is anticipated that over the long-...
Safe Driving Campaign aimed at JUTC Drivers
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Safe Driving Campaign aimed at JUTC Drivers

Drivers employed to the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) are to be re-trained under a Safe driving campaign, Transport, Works and Housing Minister, Hon. Dr. Omar Davies, has announced. The initiative will be undertaken in partnership with the Road Safety Council and the Insurance Association of Jamaica. "We are going to ensure that the drivers of the JUTC buses are models of courtesy, for correct use of the road, and ultimately, of safe driving habits," Dr. Davies said, while addressing a road safety seminar hosted by the Jamaica National General Insurance (JNGI) company on Thursday (May 17) at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston. It's amazing to see Jamaica taking road safety more seriously. These drivers need to drive carefully, especially with members of the public on board. Oth...
Jamaicans Awarded Net Billing Licences – Can now sell power to JPS
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Jamaicans Awarded Net Billing Licences – Can now sell power to JPS

A total of 11 individuals and companies have been approved by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM), to supply excess energy to the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS). The group, which include residential and commercial customers, were presented with net billing licences by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, during a meeting of the Jamaica Energy Council at Jamaica House, in St. Andrew. The licence gives approval to individuals or companies that generate their own energy through the use of renewable sources, such as wind turbines or solar systems, to sell their excess electricity to the light and power company. Mr. Paulwell informed that a twelfth application is still under review. The new licences will provide up to 100 kilowatts of energy to the...