Jamaica
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IMF gives thumbs up to Jamaica’s economic progress
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Tuesday praised the Jamaica government over its economic policies and said the island’s economic reform programme remains strong. IMF Resident Representative, Bert van Selm, in a brief statement recalled that an IMF mission to Jamaica had indicated that policy implementation under Jamaica’s Fund-supported economic reform programme has been strong. “Economic reforms…
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Capitalising On The Potential Benefits Of Marijuana
KINGSTON, Jamaica – For centuries we have been socialised that marijuana is destructive and harmful to our health. Astounding as that assertion is, it is true. During the 1970s the subject of the benefits of marijuana was first explored, since then not much has been done to advance this subject. The current issue is how Jamaica can capitalise on the…
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CARPHA confirms strain of Swine flu
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has confirmed six cases of the “Influenza A H1N1 Pandemic 09” in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, according to a statement issued by Chief Medical officer, Simon Keizer. Last week, classes at the Troumaca Secondary School were suspended after the Ministry of Health confirmed that it had become…
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US welcomes Jamaica’s support for Syria agreement
KINGSTON, Jamaica – THE United States has welcomed Jamaica's support for the agreement between Washington and Moscow for the elimination of Syria's chemical weapons. America's position was related by US Ambassador to Jamaica Pamela Bridgewater in an interview with newspaper journalists at her residence in Kingston last Friday afternoon. “We were very happy that Jamaica stated its support for the…
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Ruling party to focus on economic growth and national development
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has assured supporters of the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) that her administration is working towards economic growth and national development, with job creation the target. Simpson Miller, who is also PNP President told hundreds of supporters who gathered at the National Arena in the Corporate Area on Sunday , that…
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High time indeed to review marijuana policies
KINGSTON, Jamaica – On September 17, the Bureau of the Heads of Government of the 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM) discussed the decriminalisation of marijuana and its production for medicinal purposes. The discussion was prompted by the prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves who, prior to the meeting, is reported to have said “it is high…
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Legalising marijuana would be wrong
KINGSTON, Jamaica – An edited portion of Government MP Dr Dayton Campbell's contribution to the debate in Parliament on the motion to legalise marijuana. A third of Jamaicans have used ganja in any form and 30 per cent of Jamaicans have smoked marijuana with males reporting this three times more frequently than females. Fewer than a half of reported users…
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A campaign worth waging
Kingston, Jamaica – The charismatic and visionary St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves is working hard to put the issue of reparations for slavery on the map. Last week's first ever Regional Reparation Conference is an important initial step. Nobody pretends that the campaign to obtain reparations for the Caribbean will be easy. Europe is in the middle of a…
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No respect for charity-seeking countries
KIGNSTON, Jamaica – THE bureau of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), at its recent meeting, decried disparaging comments by foreign financial and economic commentators. Why is CARICOM not getting respect for its economic policy? Nobody is obliged to assist anyone else, but the willingness to help is usually stimulated by sympathy with someone who cannot help himself because of circumstances beyond…
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New ‘action’ mood in CARICOM?
KINGSTON, Jamaica – EVEN as Heads of Government of our Caribbean Community (CARICOM) appear to be moving away from a “pause mode” imposed three years ago in favour of a proactive approach on social and economic developments, they would, hopefully, avoid wasting scarce human resources and time in pursuit of new initiatives. My unsolicited suggestion is being humbly offered in…
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