Archive for 2011

Psychologist, Dr. Leahcim Semaj, says the 14 consecutive quarters of economic decline has been affecting the mental health of Jamaicans, leading many to engage in destructive behaviours.

He said the stress caused by the economic pressures is also compounded by the fact that there are not enough outlets through which Jamaicans can easily access mental health care.

Yesterday, the education ministry reported that a suicide hotline set up just over a week ago to deal with issues affecting troubled teens was being ...

The agriculture ministry says domestic crop production for the first quarter of this year has shown signs of growth.

Preliminary figures from the ministry show that between January and March, there was a 20 per cent increase in domestic crop production.

This was disclosed by agriculture minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, while addressing the opening of the Montpelier Agricultural and Industrial Show earlier this week.

Dr Tufton said the high production figure is indicative of the trend over the last few years.

He noted that ...

TOURISM MINISTER Edmund Bartlett has revealed that Jamaica welcomed over 20,000 visitors to its shores last Wednesday.

Speaking during the closing session of the fourth annual Tourism Outlook Seminar at the Half Moon Conference Centre in Montego Bay, St James, Bartlett said the visitors arrived by air at the Sangster International Airport and by sea at the Montego Freeport, as well as the Falmouth and Ocho Rios cruise ports.

Bartlett said, “Wednesday, April 20, 2011 was a particularly strong day for Jamaica ...

Several consumers chose to forego the traditional bun and cheese this Easter, stating that prices were out of their reach.

In downtown Kingston, noticeably absent this year were the traditional bun and cheese handcart vendors offering the sweet treats for sale along the busy streets.

Vendor Gary Matthews said each year, he would journey to National Bakery and Dairy Industries to buy his supply of bun and cheese. However, this year it was just not worth the investment.

“From mi hear how people ...

Trade Minister Stephen Cadiz believes the upcoming Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) will help catapult Trinidad and Tobago towards sustainable development.

Cadiz made the comments while speaking at the official launch of the forum yesterday at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. The forum will be held from June 13-14 at the Hilton Trinidad.

“The forum will take place at the most opportune time in our path to enhance national development as we seek not only to transform our economy but to establish ourselves ...

but consumers complain that fuel price still not reflective of latest gov’t reduction of excise tax
OWING to the further reduction of excise tax on fuel, the prices for gasoline at the state-owned Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) stations remain below the $1000 mark while the price for the commodity has surpassed this amount at the Shell and Texaco Service Stations.

The government has recently announced a further reduction to 10 percent of the already softened Excise Tax on fuel in an ...

WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. —The Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI) on April 18 announced the addition of its newest member company, Cargill, an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services.

“Cargill’s strategic leadership and participation will be a solid asset for GEMI as we move forward to provide environmental sustainability solutions for our members that represent more than 15 business sectors,” said GEMI’s Chair Keith Miller, manager, environmental initiatives and sustainability, 3M. “I am particularly pleased ...

THE GOVERNMENT is to again raid the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to compensate airlines for flying to Jamaica.

Figures in the Estimates of Expenditure tabled in the House of Representatives last week indicate that $294.2 million is to be taken from the TEF for seat support.

That is a scheme instituted by the Government where some airlines are compensated to absorb “an element of risk with the tour operators to encourage the continuation and operation of charter programmes to Jamaica particularly from ...