KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, says that it is irresponsible to suggest that the government has had nothing to do with the success of Jamaican athletes. He was responding to a "disappointing" statement made by "a member of the track and field community" read more...

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NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) -- Moody's Investor Service said on Wednesday it downgraded Jamaica's credit rating to Caa1 as debt restructuring is becoming more likely. "Even though an IMF program would probably give some much-needed breathing room to the fiscal position, the size of the public debt is such... read more...

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AMMAN, Jordan -- The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World (2009 Edition) is a first of its kind published by the Prince Al-waleed Bin Talaal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding of Georgetown University, Washington DC in conjunction with the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Amman, Jordan. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- The House of Representatives in Jamaica concluded debate on the new Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (Constitutional Amendment) Bill on Tuesday, with five amendments. However, the Bill must remain on the table of the House for another three months. read more...

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BLOEMFONTEIN (Reuters) -- Goal-shy World Cup hosts South Africa made it more than six hours without finding the net when they were held to a goalless draw by Jamaica in a friendly on Tuesday. The home team started well but quickly ran out of ideas, recording a fourth successive game without a goal. read more...

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TORONTO, Canada (JIS) -- The indomitable spirit of the Jamaican people was certainly evident earlier this year when Newton Marshall became the first Jamaican to participate in the grueling Yukon Quest International Dog Sled Race. For 12 days, he traversed 1,600 kilometres of the roughest terrain in North America. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is reporting that the country imported at least 70 percent less fresh produce, compared to this time last year, as a result of increased food crop production. Crop production from July to September increased by 20.6% over 2008. read more...

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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) -- World Cup hosts South Africa get another chance on Tuesday against Jamaica in Bloemfontein to cure the scoring sickness that has infected the team. Bafana Bafana (The Boys) have scored just once in the last six internationals, and that came against Madagascar. read more...

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MIAMI, USA -- The civil trial of the case against Frank Cox and DYC Fishing Ltd of Kingston, Jamaica, brought by Miami, Florida-based Perla Del Caribe Inc will proceed to trial in Miami Civil Court, before Judge Marc Schumacher. The plaintiff, Perla, claims in excess of $1 million dollars due to it in profits. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- The Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica, remains open and operational, a release from the airport's managers and operators, MBJ Airports Limited, confirmed on Friday evening. MBJ said it continues to extend an invitation to employees to return to work. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Information technology consultant, Marydelene Vasquez, says that Jamaica is best suited to providing the example for the rest of the Caribbean in sharing information to meet critical development needs. Vasquez said with Jamaica being one of the leading nations in the region... read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- The two-year contract that Jamaica's Ministry of Health has entered into with telecoms provider, Digicel, will cost the government significantly less than the former fragmented system. This was stated by Minister of Health, Rudyard Spencer, at a press briefing held at the Ministry. read more...

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MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (AFP) -- World and Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter Veronica Campbell Brown has set her sights on next year's World Indoor athletics Championships in Doha. If she does make the Jamaican team for the March 12-14 championships, it would be her first time at the event. read more...

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MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) -- The world's fastest man Usain Bolt says that he intends to take his foot off the pedal in 2010. Back from holiday and training again, Bolt said that he has not set out a calendar of events for 2010, a year in which there will be neither a world championships nor an Olympic Games. read more...

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LONDON, England (JIS) -- Jamaica was the toast of the 30th World Travel Market (WTM), which ended on Thursday at the Excel Exhibition Centre in East London, England. The country kicked off a successful week on Sunday, winning an unprecedented number of awards at the opening ceremony. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters) -- Triple world and Olympic champion Usain Bolt received a diplomatic passport from Jamaica's Prime Minister Bruce Golding on Thursday. The 23-year-old received the document, which allows him to travel overseas as an ambassador-at-large, during a brief ceremony. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Andrew Gallimore, said it is time for Jamaicans to come together to "find a focus and develop a deliberate strategy" to raise the productivity level of the country. He was speaking to private and public sector managers in a workshop. read more...

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MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (JIS) -- Jamaica's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kenneth Baugh, has called on members of the Caribbean multi-national business community, to move now towards creating an enabling environment for trade and investment in their countries, and to build partnerships. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, has appealed to top-flight Jamaican athletes to use their celebrity status to leverage support for the education system. Holness was speaking Monday at the launch of the third annual Fun 4 Kidz Sanya Richards Fast Track programme. read more...

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LONDON, England (Reuters) -- World and Olympic champions Usain Bolt and Kenenisa Bekele were among five contenders shortlisted for the male Athlete of the Year award on Monday. At this year's world championships Jamaica's Bolt added the 100 meter and 200m titles to the Olympic golds he won last year. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Principal of the University of the West Indies' (UWI) Mona campus, Professor Gordon Shirley, said that the institution has taken steps to address some of the challenges arising from the global economic downturn. Speaking at the launch of the campus' engineering programme... read more...

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LONDON, England (JIS) -- A 14-member trade mission from the United Kingdom, spearheaded by the Jamaica Trade and Invest European Office, will arrive in Jamaica next Monday, November 16. More than 10 companies will be represented on the week-long mission.  The companies represent a number of industries. read more...

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MANDEVILLE, Jamaica (JIS) -- Manager of Research, Development and Portfolio Management at Pan Caribbean Bank, Merrick Plummer, has said that Jamaica's efforts to respond to the current recession with stimulus packages has been stifled by the lack of cash resources. Plummer said that many people... read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Jamaica's Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, said that collaboration between Caribbean and Latin American countries, or joint action in strategic areas, is not enough to achieve integration. Golding said significant achievements toward integration and collaboration have already been made. read more...

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MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (JIS) -- Jamaica and Mexico have signed on to a new bilateral civil aviation agreement, which will allow for improved air service between the two countries. The agreement was signed by Jamaica's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr Kenneth Baugh. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Jamaica's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr Kenneth Baugh, has praised the Rio Group for its role in strengthening the region's international presence. Dr Baugh made comment on Thursday, after Jamaica was admitted as the 25th member. read more...

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MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (JIS) -- Jamaica is gearing up for more high-rollers and heavy spenders with Cabinet's recent approval of an 'inventory-enrichment strategy,' which will allow merchants to import more high-end products into the island. Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, said in many cases... read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (FP) -- Glen Mills has resigned after 22 years as head of the Jamaican national track and field team but he will remain coach of the Usain Bolt's Racers Track Club. Mills plans to stop working with the national team so he can concentrate more time on coaching the club team. read more...

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WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters) -- The International Monetary Fund said it would continue talks with Jamaica next week as they work to finalize a $1.2 billion standby loan. An IMF team visited Kingston from Oct. 27 to Nov. 6, and IMF mission chief Trevor Alleyne said the focus of the talks was on policy measures. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Prime Minister Bruce Golding has assured the country that the Jamaican government is close to resolving outstanding issues with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which will enable the Fund to proceed with its application for a US$1.2 billion standby loan agreement. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says that its mission in Jamaica is making progress in discussions with the Jamaican Government, and will provide an update on the talks by the end of this week. This was stated in a release issued Monday night from spokesperson, Andreas Adriano. read more...

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TORONTO, Canada (JIS) -- A Jamaican-born policeman has been appointed to the second highest rank in Toronto's police force, in Canada. Peter Sloly, who hails from Kingston, Jamaica, recently became the second black person in the history of the Toronto Police Service (TPS) to be made its Deputy Chief. read more...

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NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) -- Standard & Poor's said on Monday it downgraded Jamaica one notch, to "CCC" and kept the negative outlook on the island credit following the resignation of the central bank governor, the lead negotiator of a possible standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund. read more...

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NAIROBI, Kenya (Reuters) -- Olympic and world sprint champion Usain Bolt plans to move up to the 400 metres after setting world records in the 100 and 200. Bolt told a news conference on Friday his main goal was to become a legend in his sport after shattering the 100 and 200 world records. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters) -- Jamaica's central bank governor, Derick Latibeaudiere, who was leading negotiations with the IMF to obtain a $1.2 billion stand-by loan, has resigned, Finance Minister Audley Shaw said. No reason was given for the resignation of Latibeaudiere, 58. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Within another two years, residents of Kingston, Jamaica, who have borne the inconvenience of water lock-offs, will have reliable, adequate water supply. This improvement will come through the US$215 million Jamaica Water Sector Improvement Programme. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Jamaica is slated to benefit from a $154,769,042 (US$1,738,798) project to reduce the threat of invasive alien species (IAS) to the region's biodiversity. The project titled: 'Mitigating the Threats of Invasive Alien Species in the Insular Caribbean' is being funded by the United Nations. read more...

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MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (JIS) -- British Airways made its inaugural non-stop flight from London's Gatwick Airport to Montego Bay, with 280 passengers on board, on Thursday. The crew and passengers were met at the Sangster International Airport by a welcoming team, led by Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett. read more...

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MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (JIS) -- The Fifth Hemispheric Forum on Agriculture and Rural Life in the Americas came to a close on Thursday in Jamaica with ministerial delegates signing a 16-point agreement, which sets out an action plan to boost agricultural production in the region. read more...

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- General Manager of Petrojam, Winston Watson, has stated that the refinery is now ready to supply both grades of E10 (a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline) to service stations in Jamaica. Both E10 87 and E10 90 (Octane) was due to be rolled out in Montego Bay on Sunday. read more...

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