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The Coffee Industry Board on Tuesday shipped the first batch of 16,500 kilograms of green coffee bean to Zhejiang Dunns River Import and Export Company Limited in China, under a supply deal to sell 70,000 kg to the Asian powerhouse.

The supply contract is worth US$2 million and marks the continued execution of Jamaica’s strategy to diversify its premium coffee market beyond Japan.

The shipment was sent off with fanfare at the Kingston port.

“This for us is going to do a number ...

THE Government’s push to pass the Corruption Prevention (Special Prosecutor) Act before the end of this legislative year failed yesterday when Parliamentarians, after agonising for several hours over several clauses, found themselves at an impasse.

In the end, acknowledging that they had reached deadlock, House Leader Andrew Holness said the legislation would be carried over for debate in the new parliamentary year which begins on April 14 this year, once the issues raised were addressed by the government drafters.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Caribbean officials will meet here from today to discuss free movement and contingent rights under the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy (CSME).

A CARICOM Secretariat release said the April 4 to 7 meetings will focus on the follow up of several mandates received from the regional leaders at their last summit.

This refers particularly to the decisions relating to the full and harmonised implementation of the various free movement regimes and the conduct of a comprehensive study ...

HAMILTON, Bermuda — Mystery surrounds the shock resignation today of National Security Minister David Burch.

Burch also quit the Senate where he was government leader. He was not immediately available for comment.

Wayne Perinchief, a former top policeman, who previously sat on the backbench of the ruling Progressive Labour Party (PLP), was sworn at Government House as the new National Security Minister.

Former Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith was sworn in as the new PLP senator replacing Burch, a former commanding officer of the ...

WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The preliminary national average price received by farmers for all wheat in March was $7.63 per bushel, up 20¢ from $7.43 in February, mainly the result of a surge in spring wheat prices, and up $2.93 from $4.70 in March 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its latest Agricultural Prices report.

The average price paid for winter wheat in March was $6.82 a bushel, down 21¢ from $7.03 in February 2011 but up $2.37 ...

‘Beware of LCDS detractors’
– during Regional Technical meeting on Refrigeration 
AGRICULTURE Minister Robert Persaud has encouraged participating countries to protect their environs in contributing to sustainable development as they seek to comply with protectionary measures for the ozone layer. He was at the time addressing a Regional Technical meeting on Refrigeration at the Grand Coastal Inn, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara which attracted participants from Haiti; Suriname; Guyana; Trinidad and Tobago; Grenada; Barbados; Bahamas; Antigua and the CARICOM Secretariat.

Guyana in ...

Local insurance group Guardian Holdings Ltd has turned itself around and back into profitability.

The group’s net profit after tax for its year ended December 31, 2010 stood at $425 million.

This was its best performance since 2004, GHL chairman Arthur Lok Jack said in the company’s published financial statements yesterday.

“This impressive turnaround compares to (2009’s) loss of $824 million, which was driven primarily from the loss on disposal of Zenith Insurance Company,” he said.

Zenith was GHL’s motor insurance subsidiary, based in ...

Jamaica is sending a five-member team to Barbados today to meet with officials to discuss the treatment of Shanique Myrie’s allegations of abuse while entering the territory.

The visit coincides with the public outrage over the reported maltreatment of a Jamaican woman by Barbados immigration officials on March 14.

Shanique Myrie reported, earlier this month, she was subjected to two demeaning cavity searches by a female immigration officer in Barbados and was detained for hours for interrogation.

Myrie, who has since retained legal ...

Not everyone is happy with the increasing number of local businessmen who own Jamaican businesses, but Jamaican Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Karl Samuda is encouraging more locals to invest in that country.

Samuda extended an invitation to local businesses while addressing members of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) at the group’s annual general meeting at the Hilton Trinidad, St Ann’s, yesterday.

He said, “Many have expressed, at times, disappointment that a number of our businesses have had to ...

HAVANA (Reuters) – Former US President Jimmy Carter will meet with Cuban President Raul Castro, the leader of Cuba’s Catholic Church and the island’s Jewish community during a Havana visit starting  tmorrow amid speculation he will seek the release of a jailed American aid contractor.

His public schedule was issued yesterday by the Cuban government, which invited him for his second visit to the country, the first coming in 2002.

He is the only US president, in or out of power, to ...