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Stories by Daraine Luton

Deal with perception to grow tourism

Published:Tuesday | April 14, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton

The head of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) said Tuesday that her members are seeing an uptick in the tourism sector, even as she says "we can probably do a little bit more" to boost the level of growth. Nicola Madden Greig, having...

Students taken to hospital with symptoms of psychosis after allegedly smoking ganja on 'decriminalisation day'

Published:Wednesday | April 15, 2015 | 5:42 PMDaraine Luton

At least two students were taken to hospital yesterday for suspected psychosis, brought on after they reportedly smoked marijuana to enhance their learning potential.Education Minister Ronald Thwaites said in Parliament yesterday that he received...

Paulwell to issue ganja research licences to UWI & UTech

Published:Wednesday | April 15, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

Science minister Phillip Paulwell has announced that he intends to issue licences to the University of the West Indies and the University of Technology to undertake ganja research. Contributing to the Sectoral Debate in the House of...

Don't Panic, Brand Jamaica strong says Minister McNeill as the US relations with Cuba soften some more

Published:Tuesday | April 14, 2015 | 4:59 PMDaraine Luton

ON THE day that the White House announced that United States President Barack Obama would remove Cuba from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, Jamaica's tourism minister disclosed in Parliament that the State is currently undertaking a study...

Opposition says Tourism Minister is like a runner on a track without lanes

Published:Tuesday | April 14, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

Shahine Robinson,  the opposition spokesperson on tourism,  has blasted her government counterpart for not doing enough to grow the sector.  Speaking in the Sectoral Debate after McNeill made his presentation, Robinson said that the...

Cabinet gives OK for tourism workers pension scheme

Published:Tuesday | April 14, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

Cabinet has approved the establishment of a pension scheme for workers in the tourism sector. Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill says that a defined contribution scheme is to be setup for workers in the sector. Contributions are to be provided by...

Billions invested in tourist sector since 2012 - McNeill

Published:Tuesday | April 14, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

More than $54 billion has been invested in the tourist sector since 2012, Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill said today. McNeill said the investments in the sector represent part of a surge which he said will lead to the generation of thousands of...

JTB studying impact of new Cuban relationship with US on Jamaica arrivals

Published:Tuesday | April 14, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is currently undertaking a study on the effects that the opening up of Cuba could have on Jamaica's tourism market, particularly as it relates to visitors from the United States. Dr Wykeham McNeill, the minister...

Slow going for St Thomas film park

Published:Monday | April 13, 2015 | 3:46 PMDaraine Luton

When Industry Minister Anthony Hylton spoke in the Sectoral Debate last year, he announced that the old Goodyear factory near Morant Bay, St Thomas, would be converted into a film park.Nearly one year later, the old factory still lies idle. The zoom...

Obama pledges assistance on energy

Published:Thursday | April 9, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton

Jamaica's prime minister, Portia Simpson Miller, said yesterday that the statement of intent which was agreed by the governments of Jamaica and the United States (US) will facilitate the development of emerging technologies and industries and pave...

Portia satisfied with US efforts to stem flow of guns

Published:Thursday | April 9, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said yesterday she is satisfied with the assistance being provided by the United States of America to stem the flow of guns into the island. "The United States of America would not want for illegal guns to be...

You are on the right side of history, Portia tells Obama

Published:Thursday | April 9, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton

United States (US) President Barack Obama has indicated that there is a great interest among ordinary Cubans to "put one era behind them" and move into an era which will see them having new relationships with his country and others, reflecting a...

Obama promises to help the region with energy

Published:Thursday | April 9, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

United States President Barack Obama has vowed that his country will assist the Caribbean region with its energy security as a means of generating economic growth. "Often times people in the Caribbean, despite having less resources, are paying...

'The US should re-engage the region'

Published:Wednesday | April 8, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton

FOREIGN-POLICY experts are suggesting that the strengthening of relations between Caribbean countries and China could offer an excellent opportunity for regional leaders to press home to the United States (US) that it needs to re-engage the region...

US to unveil energy deal as Obama meets Portia

Published:Wednesday | April 8, 2015 | 3:33 PMDaraine Luton

Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell has described as "comprehensive" an arrangement with the United States (US), which could see Jamaica's North American neighbours providing substantial support in the country's quest for energy security.Paulwell is...

Marks wants progamme for Jamaican graduates to work in the United States

Published:Monday | April 6, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton

FORMER Jamaican ambassador to Washington Audrey Marks would like the Jamaican Government to use Thursday's bilateral meeting with United States President Barack...

Professor says more access to United States markets key to talks

Published:Sunday | April 5, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton

HEAD OF the Mona School of Business and Management, Professor Densil Williams, has placed market access on the table as a critical issue that must be included in discussions with the United States on a new trade agreement.Prime Minister Portia...

Never Again! Arscott says Jamaica won't see another major fire at Riverton

Published:Wednesday | April 1, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton

Local Government Minister Noel Arscott said yesterday that Jamaica will never again see a fire of the magnitude of the last one at the Riverton City disposal site."We have now...

Reid, Clarke acknowledged by Senate

Published:Friday | March 27, 2015 | 3:55 PMDaraine Luton

Dr Nigel Clarke and Ruel Reid were hailed yesterday by Justice Minister Mark Golding for their contribution to the Senate during their brief term of appointment.Both Clarke and Reid were forced to leave the Senate in February after the court ruled...

'Opposition green with envy' - PM says Labourites jealous of PNP's success with IMF tests, points out Holness' comical theatrics as mocking the people

Published:Tuesday | March 24, 2015 | 5:13 PMDaraine Luton

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller yesterday shot back at critics of her Government for saying her administration is passing tests administered by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but failing the people's test. Contributing to the Budget...

Haughton presided over nepotism at Hanover parish council - OCG

Published:Tuesday | March 24, 2015 | 6:11 PMDaraine Luton

A special investigation conducted by the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) into the circumstances surrounding allegations of nepotism, conflicts of interest, irregularity and impropriety in the award of government contracts at the Hanover...

Olympic Way to be transformed into entertainment hip strip

Published:Thursday | March 19, 2015 | 12:00 AMDaraine Luton

Olympic Way, the home of Swagg Tuesdays, All Star Check Thursday, and Month-end Fridays, is to be transformed into an entertainment hip strip in the Corporate Area. Andrew Holness in whose West Central St Andrew constituency Olympic Way falls, said...

No double-digit wage hike

Published:Friday | March 20, 2015 | 11:32 AMDaraine Luton

Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips has yet again hinted that public-sector workers will not be getting double-digit increases in salaries, despite five years of wage freeze and their trade union representatives requesting a 30 per cent hike over two...

'No way' - Finance minister rejects calls for scrapping free health care and no tuition fees despite tight budget

Published:Friday | March 20, 2015 | 3:13 PMDaraine Luton

Free health care and free tuition at the secondary school level will not be victims of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-backed economic reform programme, even as the Government indicates a rough road ahead as it seeks to meet crucial fiscal...

BITU says 'yes' to performance-based pay... But says jobs and purse need review

Published:Wednesday | March 18, 2015 | 5:00 PMDaraine Luton

Kavan Gayle, the president general of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), said on Wednesday that he supports the proposal for the introduction of a performance management system in the public sector to drive efficiency, but said that the...

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