JIS Year in Review, 2010

December 29, 2010Vol. 2 Issue 12

2 - – The Voice of Jamaica

A publication of the Jamaica Information Service

For further information contact:

58a Half Way Tree RoadKingston 10, Jamaica, W.I.Phone: (876) 926-3740/3590

Fax: (876) 929-3009Email: [email protected]

Website: www.jis.gov.jm

This month, Voice of Jamaica askedrespondents: “How can you help tomake Jamaica a better place to live in2011?” Here are some of the responses.

O. RODGER HUTCHINSONPublic Relations OfficerI intend to engage in some kindof enterprise so that I canincrease my base income. Thiswould definitely provide employ-ment for about three persons.The spin-off from that activitywill impact several persons atseveral tiers of the economy. If this is successful,that business should grow and probably employadditional persons thus increasing the ripple effect.

TREVOR HUDSONDelivery ManI will make myself a betterperson in 2011 so that I can bea role model to others.

CAROLYN FACEYAdministrative Assistant I will help to make Jamaica abetter place in 2011 by spreadingthe good news of the gospeland telling more people aboutthe love of Jesus.

JODIANNE MCCALLAStudent I will volunteer to help theyoung people who cannot readin my community…and areafraid to go to classes. I havealready made plans and willcertainly start in the new year.

YONE WALLACEStudent I will do my part by revealingany act of corruption I comeacross in 2011.

Government of Jamaica Remained Focused on

VVISIONISION 20302030T

he country made pro-gress in a number of keyareas as the Government

remained focused on meeting thetargets of Vision 2030 Jamaica,the national development plan.

Vision 2030 Jamaica,including the Medium TermSocio-Economic PolicyFramework (MTF) 2009-2012,which were tabled by PrimeMinister the Hon. BruceGolding in the House ofRepresentatives in May 2009,provides a road map for makingthe country the place of choice tolive, work, raise families and dobusiness by 2030.

The Planning Institute ofJamaica (PIOJ), an agency of theOPM, which has been leading theprocess, reported advancement inempowering persons to achievetheir full potential; making thesociety secure, cohesive and just;making the economy prosper-ous; and achieving a naturalhealthy environment.

Empowering Jamaicans

Focus is being placed on edu-cation attainment includingimproving adult literacy, tertiaryenrolment, and the results of theCaribbean Secondary Examin-ation Certificate (CSEC), as theGovernment empowers Jamaicansto achieve their full potential.

One of the main targets ofVision 2030 is see 60 per centof Jamaicans acquiring the req-uisite certification by 2015.

Creating a Safe Society

The Government of Jamaicaremains committed to creating asafe society for all, and hasmade outstanding progress inthe area of security, which isseen in the significant reductionin major crime rates last year.

The main contributing fac-

tors were the disruption ofgangs and their activities by thepolice, increased cooperationbetween citizens and the policeand increased use of proactiveand technologically-drivenpolicing methods.

The Government alsoremained determined to consoli-dating the gains, through pro-grammes aimed at communityrenewal, strengthening of thePolice/Civilian Oversight Auth-ority, and facilitating mainstreamsocial services within affectedcommunities.

Achieving Economic Prosperity

Achieving economic pros-perity is a major strategic goalunder Vision 2030, and theGovernment has made a num-ber of strides in this area,despite the challenges of theglobal recession, drought andrecent heavy rains.

The country, during theyear, was able to achieve a stableforeign exchange rate; interestrates on Government paper andCentral Bank deposit instru-ments at a 33-year low; infla-tion rate projected in the six toseven per cent range; and the netinternational reserves stood at ahealthy US$1.9 billion.

There was also theresounding success of theJamaica Debt Exchange (JDX),which opened in January andclosed on February 24 with aparticipation rate of 99.2 percent.

Despite the torrential rainsassociated with Tropical StormNicole which damaged roadinfrastructure and agriculture,the economy remains on courseto record growth in theDecember quarter for the firsttime since 2008.

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding (right) presents acopy of the National Development Plan Vision 2030Jamaica (popular version), to head girl of MountAlvernia High School in Montego Bay, Abigayle Allen.

– by Balford Henry

Director General of the Plan-ning Institute of Jamaica(PIOJ), Dr. GladstoneHutchinson, addressing thequarterly press briefing onMonday November 22 atthe PIOJ in Kingston.

COVER PHOTO:Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding (left), Minister of Water and Housing, Hon. Dr.Horace Chang (2nd right), and Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica, Chen Jinghua (right),break ground for the Belle Air Development housing project in St. Ann in December. ThePrime Minister said the funding by the Chinese government confirms the solid relationshipthat exists between Jamaica and China.

GOJ Housing Policy

The National Housing Trust(NHT) had a good year in 2010,rolling out a number of new ini-

tiatives and benefits to contributorswhile continuing its thrust toward re-organisation for financial viability.During the year:• Mortgage rates for homeowners

were reduced by one per cent for persons earning between $7,500 and approximately $20,000 weekly.

• The loan ceiling increased by $1 million to $4.5 million for scheme units, open market pur-chases and build-on-own land developments; and for serviced lots,from $1.2 million to $1.5 million.

• First time mortgagors age 55 and over who have been contributors for a minimum of 10 years began tobenefit from a two per cent reductionin interest rates.

• A new subsidy programme to allocate 40 per cent of NHT’s quarterly pre-tax surplus to selectedmortgage applicants earning less than $10,000 per week was announced.

• The NHT discontinued its requirementfor applicants of housing scheme units to pay a minimum five per cent deposit.

• Interest charged on interim con-struction loans reduced from eight to three per cent, to encourage growth in the construction sector.

• The NHT also announced a deferredmortgage system for contributors whose salaries made it impossible for them to purchase a house. Under the new scheme, the applicant is able to qualify for a mortgage equivalent to 60 per cent of the price of the house, while the other 40 per cent is converted into a deferred mortgage. In August, Prime Minister the Hon.

Bruce Golding announced other initia-tives to enhance the affordability ofhousing to poorer Jamaicans, in keepingwith the Government’s commitment tomake housing more affordable. Amongthe initiatives announced was the deci-sion to extend the life of mortgages upto 70 years.

Speaking at a Gleaner’s EditorsForum in Kingston on December 20,the Prime Minister said, “People areactive and healthy longer and, there-fore, they can afford to service a mort-gage longer. We have made certainchanges in relation to how people cancombine to secure a mortgage. Our chal-lenge is how to keep the price of housesas low as possible.”

In November, Mr. Goldingannounced more measures to makehome ownership easier.

Speaking at the handing over ofhomes in Union Estate, a jointNHT/Jamaica Confederation of TradeUnions project, the Prime Minister dis-

closed that the NHT would join theLand Administration ManagementProgramme (LAMP), in making $100million available through a revolvingloan scheme to assist persons who needsupport for land titling.

He also announced that a loanwould be made available to assist per-sons seeking an NHT mortgage tofinance their deposit on the property,against the value of contributions theyhave made already to the Trust.

Under Parent Assist II, personsover 65 who have never used their NHTcontributions can co-apply for up to$4.5 million with an offspring to assistin purchasing a home. Public sectoremployees, who are NHT mortgagors,were also granted a special one per centreduction in interest on their loans forthree years, effective July 1, 2010. Inaddition, applications were accepted for87 home grants, enabling contributorswho earn a maximum of $10,000 per weekto apply for up to $1.2 million per personto top up loans to buy or build a house.

About 700 Jamaicans are expectedto benefit from the extended mortgageterms, while about 15,000 personsshould benefit from the no-depositscheme, which came into effect on July 1.

– The Voice of Jamaica - 3

GOV’T Committed to Providing Affordable Housing – by Balford Henry

Public sector employee, Annette Garwood (right), receives the keys to herUnion Estates home in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, from PrimeMinister the Hon. Bruce Golding, at the handing over ceremonyrecently. The housing scheme is a collaborative project of the NationalHousing Trust (NHT) and Trade Unions representing the public sector. Ofthe 357 units, 80% is reserved for public sector employees.

Prime Minister the Hon.Bruce Golding reaffirmedhis intention to aggressively

pursue the redevelopment ofDowntown Kingston’s commercialdistrict in 2010.

The initiative, which is beingspearheaded by the UrbanDevelopment Corporation, is gearedtowards the refurbishing andupgrading of buildings and facilitiesin the commercial district. The planhas already seen the restoration ofthe St. William Grant Park at Parade,and the refurbishing of sections ofthe Coronation Market. Both wereachieved through support from twoof the islands major telecommunica-tions companies, Digicel and Claro.

The redevelopment plan will featurea new transportation centre on WaterLane; a refurbished Ward Theatre atNorth Parade; a cultural centre in thevicinity of North Parade, in honourof South American liberator SimonBolivar; and a redeveloped water-front to include a new building tohouse the Ministry of ForeignAffairs and Foreign Trade, Digicel’sglobal headquarters, and a restoredVictoria Pier.

“The Government has a respon-sibility. We have to provide the plan-ning and the basic facilities and weare working very hard to do that. Wehave also provided policy supportfor the private sector,” the PrimeMinister said.

DOWNTOWNTaking Back the City: The Rebirth of

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding (centre) breaks ground for theconstruction of Digicel’s global headquarters in downtown Kingston.Sharing the occasion are: Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew, SenatorConcillor Desmond McKenzie (right) and Digicel’s Chairman, Denis O’Brian.

A section of the Portmore Country Club housing development.


Jamaicans islandwidebegan 2010 in the throesof a drought, but that

did not dry up theGovernment’s plans to deliverpiped water to several commu-nities.

In early March, Minister ofWater and Housing, Hon. Dr.Horace Chang, told the nationthat a massive US$85 millionrehabilitation and restructuringplan for the KingstonMetropolitan Area's (KMA)water supply system hadalready begun.

On March 15 in the districtof Catadupa in South St.James, State Minister in theMinistry, Hon. Everald

Warmington, officially com-missioned a water supply sys-tem at a cost of some $23 mil-lion, supplying 103,000 gal-lons of portable water. At thesame time, works were carriedout on the New Roads distribu-tion system in Westmoreland,the Hill Sixty water supply sys-tem in St. Thomas, and theCascade water supply system(Phase I) in St. Ann.

In Clarendon, some watersystems benefitted from budget-ary allocations, including JamesHill, Peace River and the newQuaminus water supply sys-tems.Work also continued on thewater supply systems in Broad-gate, Hunts Town/ Wellington;

Top Enfield/ Galliwasp in St.Mary; the Askinesh/Dias inHanover; and Bottom CoffeeGrove in Manchester.

Other improved water sys-tems impacted residents of theNorwich/ Boundbrook commu-nity in Portland and the Parotteewell in St. Elizabeth, which servessome 2,500 persons in the parish.

On April 26 work begununder the $17 billion JamaicaWater Sector Improvement Pro-

gramme with exploratory drilling,while samples from bore holeswere being examined.

The new Cornwall Courtsewerage disposal system,which was designed to servesome 1,000 households acrossNorth West St. James, wascompleted at a cost of $300million in August, eightmonths ahead of schedule.

In the meantime, rehabili-tation work on the Negril Waste-

water Treatment Plant inWestmoreland has been sched-uled to start in January 2011,with a $278 million contractnow in place for the project.

Minister Chang said thatthe project was being financedthrough $243 million in grantfunding from the EuropeanUnion (EU), with the remain-ing $35 million to come fromthe Government of Jamaicathrough the NWC.

Government Taking WATER to the People– by Warren Wint

Minister of Water and Housing, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang(left), in discussion with Member of Parliament for WestRural St. Andrew and State Minister in the Ministry ofLabour and Social Security, Hon. Andrew Gallimore(right), and Managing Director of Rural Water SupplyLimited, Peter Clarke, at a community meeting at the St.Jude's Anglican Church, Stony Hill, St. Andrew.

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding officially commissions the Macca TreeWater supply system in western St. Catherine into operation. Sharing themoment are: Minister of Water and Housing, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang; DeputyPrime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Member ofParliament for Western Central St. Catherine, Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh; and Mayorof Spanish Town, Councillor Dr. Andrew Wheatley.

Early in 2010, theMinistry of Water andHousing signalled its

intention to continue its pro-gramme of tackling the hous-ing shortage and the problemof squatting.

In February, ground wasbroken for some 288 servicedlots under the Sugar WorkersHousing Programme inBounty Hall, Trelawny, byMinister of Water andHousing, Hon. Dr. HoraceChang. The project forms partof a Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MoU) signedby nine sugar estates, threetrade unions, the SugarProducers Federation, and theNational Housing Trust(NHT), some years ago.

In April, Minister Changexpressed pleasure that the

Twickenham Park HousingDevelopment, Phase II, in St.Catherine would be complet-ed by mid-year, five monthsahead of schedule. The hous-ing units were handed over laterin the year.

The Housing Minister onJuly 29 broke ground for theconstruction of 125 detachedtwo-bedroom houses, as partof a new housing develop-ment in Westmeade,Portmore, St. Catherine. Thedevelopment, namedWestmeade Willows, will beimplemented under the HAJat a cost of $663.6 million.

Two other projects werecontracted by the HAJ inPortmore, the Palms ofPortmore and Portmore Villas2. The three projects, on com-pletion, will provide more

than 400 new housing solu-tions in the St. CatherineMunicipality.

In August, the Ministryhanded over keys to personswho bought houses in StadiumGardens, Phase II, just over ayear after work began on theconstruction of the 56 newtwo-bedroom townhouses.

In December, MinisterChang broke ground for amajor housing developmentin the district of Holland, sometwo miles from Falmouth inTrelawny.

The project, which willbe implemented byZuccherina Developments(Jamaica) Limited, in collabora-tion with KENCASAConstruction and ProjectManagement Limited, bothprivate sector interests, will

see the construction of 1,385housing solutions on some 78hectares of land. Construction

will be done in four phases,with phase one accommodat-ing 446 housing solutions.

Ministry Sheltering More JamaicansHOUSING – by Warren Wint

Minister of Water and Housing, Hon. Dr. HoraceChang (left), presents home owner, Camisha Turner(right), with the keys to her new two bedroom town-house in Stadium Gardens, St. Andrew on August 25,2010. Looking on is Member of Parliament for SouthEast St. Andrew, Maxine Henry-Wilson.


Financial analysts havedubbed 2010 as historicand game changing in

terms of Jamaica’s boldimplementation of a debtexchange programme.

Prime Minister the Hon.Bruce Golding in speaking ofthe country’s overall economicrestructuring programme said:“The way forward is exciting.It will not be without its chal-lenges, but if we make this fun-damental shift in how we con-duct our business, we will meetthose challenges and we willbe victorious. The pain of thepresent will give way to thepromise of a brighter and moresecure future.”

The Jamaica Debt Exchange(JDX) programme came againstthe background of a crushingdebt burden and the viciouscycle of high fiscal deficits andlow growth for a number ofyears. Jamaica’s debt-to-GDP(Gross Domestic Product) ratiohas been well over 100 per centand economic growth has beenanemic.

The JDX achieved: $700billion domestic debt refi-nanced from an average of 18per cent to 12 per cent; 25 newbenchmark securities replaced350 illiquid bonds; and 99.2per cent participation, the higheston record worldwide.

With the consolidation ofthe debt swop, Jamaica’s creditrating improved. “In the periodfollowing the debt exchange,credit rating agencies upgraded

Jamaica's sovereign debt rating,Eurobond prices on sovereignbonds have rallied, and theTreasury Bill rates have fallento around 10 per cent, the lowestlevels seen since 1982.Furthermore, the income andvaluation losses related to thedebt exchange appear to havebeen smoothly absorbed byfinancial institutions,” Financeand the Public ServiceMinister, Hon. Audley Shaw,emphasised.

The global financial crisisand the subsequent fallout ofthe Jamaican bauxite/aluminasector and export industriesgenerally meant that theGovernment had to take prudentsteps to mitigate the effects ofthe recessionary storm clouds.

One strategy which theGovernment used in light ofthe virtual shut down of theglobal financial markets, wasincreased engagement with themultilateral financial institu-tions. The Government’s re-engagement in 2009 with theInternational Monetary Fund(IMF) paved the way for sub-stantial multilateral funding.Its thrust toward multilateralfunding gained momentum inthe early months of 2010. OverUS$1 billion was raised atinterest rates of between 0.63and 5.0 per cent.

The support of the multi-lateral partners – the Inter-national Monetary Fund (IMF)World Bank, Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank, and the

Caribbean Development Bank– highlighted the Government’scommitment to bring a newand transformative type ofgovernance to the people ofJamaica while increasing thesocial safety net; and producingbalanced economic and socialdevelopment.

“By using lower cost mul-tilateral budget support loans toreplace more expensive commer-cial debt, the Government gen-erated savings that can be usedprimarily to further reduce debtand alleviate poverty,” MinisterShaw explained.

On February 4, 2010 theIMF approved a $1.27 billionloan for Jamaica which was

underpinned by a 27-montheconomic programme featuringincreased spending on socialsafety net programmes, policyreforms as well as the debtexchange programme to breakthe cycle of budget crises.

The Standby Facility wasdesigned to help Jamaicaimplement its two-year medi-um term economic pro-gramme, which includes:reform of the public sector tosubstantially reduce the largebudget deficit; a debt manage-ment strategy to reduce debtservicing costs; and reformstowards strengthening thefinancial sector.

Privatisation Programme

During the second half ofthe year, the Government’sdivestment programme alsoshifted into high gear. The saleof Air Jamaica to CaribbeanAirlines halted the losseswhich amounted to $10 billion.The Government also steppedup negotiation for the sale of itsshares in the bauxite industry.GOJ holdings in Jamalco weresold, resulting in an averagemonthly savings on operationcost of $1 billion. ClarendonAlumina Production was divested,thus removing the burden ofproduction losses caused by theforward-sale contract of 2005,which cost the Governmentalmost $1 billion per month.

In addition, Highway 2000is being re-financed in order tosave the Government some $3billion in annual interest pay-ments. The divestment of theloss making sugar factories andestates was undertaken, whilethe privatisation of the Norman

Manley International Airport andthe sale of Government sharesin the Jamaica Public Service(JPS), the sole distributor ofelectricity in the island, werealso targeted for divestment.

Monetary and Fiscal Developments

Since the beginning of 2010,the following fiscal and mone-tary targets have been achieved: • Interest rates are currently

at single digits, down fromover 15 years of double-digit rates. The latest Treasury Bill rate is the lowest in over 30 years.

• Projected deficit for the fiscal year 2010/2011 is 6.5 per cent, compared with a deficit of 10.9 per cent for fiscal 2009/10.

• Appreciation of the Jam-aican dollar by just under four per cent since the endof January 2010. The ex-change rate at the end January was $89.87 to theUS dollar and at December1, 2010, the rate was just over $86.50, an indicationthat the Government’s effortsto achieve stability and build confidence in the economy are succeeding.

Game Changing JDX Move in 2010 – by Allan Brooks

“The pain ofthe present

will give way to the promiseof a brighter

and moresecure future.”

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw (right), greets theInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Chief to Jamaica, Trevor Alleyne, at apress briefing at the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Heroes Circle, inKingston.

Finance and Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (centre), fields questions ata post-Budget press conference at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle offices in Kingston.Also attending are: Governor, Bank of Jamaica (BoJ), Brian Wynter (right), andFinancial Secretary, Dr. Wesley Hughes.

TRANSPORT & WORKS6 - – The Voice of Jamaica

The Ministry of Transport andWorks made big strides in 2010as the Government continued to

upgrade the country’s road, sea, and airtransportation infrastructure and connec-tivity islandwide.

Building the capacity ofthe JUTC

The Ministry of Transport andWorks continued to increase andupgrade the fleet of the JamaicaUrban Transit Company (JUTC) in2010, as the Government sought toimprove the service offered to thetravelling public.

One hundred new state-of-the-art Volvo buses from Belgium wereofficially handed over to the JUTCin 2010, with 50 buses handed overin June and another 50 buses laterin the year. The 53-seater buses,equipped with fire safety and cameras,offers a cashless system. The buscompany’s ridership is expected toincrease from 52 million to 62 millioncommuters this fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the JUTC is poisedto significantly increase its service-able fleet, through gradual rehabil-itation of hundreds of its old and

out-of-service units which were ear-marked for disposal as scrap metal.

The buses will be rehabilitated at acost of $12.8 million each with aneight-year operational lifespan.

Improving the island’s Airports

As part of the Government’s plan toexpand Jamaica’s aviation industry,Minister Henry opened MBJ AirportsLimited’s new domestic terminal at theSangster International Airport inMontego Bay, and launched JamaicaAir Shuttle, a new domestic inter-islandair service.

And in July, he signed a $19.9 mil-lion contract for the construction of twocontrol towers at the Norman Manleyand Sangster International Airports, and15 Air Services Agreements with mem-ber states. The Government also removedthe fees from services provided by theJamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA)to commercial air operators who fly toJamaica, following a waiver on charges tooperators of small aircrafts. The JCAAprojects an increase in air commerce asa result of the removal of these fees.

Mid-year, the Bahamian-ownedWestern Air, launched its inauguraldirect flight from Sangster InternationalAirport to the Linden Pindling Inter-national Airport in Nassau, Bahamas.The launch came on the heels of majorsuccesses with its inaugural Kingstonroute.

Rolling out the Weigh Scale

As the Ministry also sought to playits part in protecting the island’s roadnetwork and promoting safety on theroadway, a $100 million contract wassigned in February with TankweldConstruction Company Limited to con-struct a fixed weigh scale station atHarbour View, St. Andrew. TheMinistry’s Vehicle Weight EnforcementProgramme involves the establishmentof fixed scales at strategic locationsacross the island. These include areas inTrelawny, St. Mary and St. Catherine,in addition to Harbour View.

Approximately two months afterrolling out the programme, the IslandTraffic Authority (ITA) expressed satis-faction with the level of compliance.

Ministry Made Big Moves in 2010 – by Alphea Saunders

Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Michael Henry (left), signs a$19.9 million contract for the construction of air traffic control towers atJamaica’s two international airports. Also taking part in the signing(from 2nd left) are: Chairman of the JCAA, Y.P. Seaton; Executive VicePresident of Intelcan Technosystems Incorporation, Zvi Glanz; andDirector of Business Development at Intelcan, Bernard Goyette.Standing is Canada’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, His ExcellencyStephen Hallihan.

The interior of one of the fifty new JUTC buses.


Most Far-Reaching Programme Launched in 2010– by Alphea SaundersROAD

TThe Ministry ofTransport and Worksmade good on its man-

date to improve the island’sroad network, with the launchof the Jamaica DevelopmentInfrastructure Programme (JDIP)in 2010. It is the largest andmost comprehensive infra-structure programme to beimplemented in the country.

The five-year project, whichwill cost US$465 million and cre-ate some 6,700 jobs, involvesthe rehabilitation of approxi-mately 300 kilometres ofparochial roads and 270 kilo-metres of main roads, alongwith bridges, retaining wallsand drains.

JDIP is a partnershipbetween the Governments ofJamaica and China, and isbeing undertaken through aloan from the Export/ImportBank of China. The NationalWorks Agency (NWA) isimplementing the project,which will be carried out intwo phases, and will benefit theentire island.

Among the project areasare: Half-Way-Tree, Hope Road,Water Lane, Hagley Park Road,and Marcus Garvey Drive inthe Corporate Area; MandelaHighway, Caymanas Crossingand Spanish Town, St. Catherine;Junction Road, St. Mary;Montego Bay, St. James; MayPen, Trout Hall, and Spaulding,Clarendon; and Alexandria andBrown’s Town, St. Ann.

“We also intend to replacethe Rio Grande Bridge in Portland;launch a new bridge to replacethe Cassia Park ford in Kingston;upgrade the Ocho Rios devel-opment road; and construct devel-opment corridors for Christianaand Williamsfield, Manchester;and Vernamfield, Clarendon,”Transport and Works MinisterHon. Michael Henry informed.

Palisadoes ShorelineProtection

The Government is alsopartnering with the Chinese in thePalisadoes Shoreline Protection

Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Michael Henry (forefront left); Member ofParliament for North West St. Andrew, Derrick Smith (2nd left); and Member ofParliament for East Central St. Andrew, Dr. Peter Phillips (right) break ground for thewidening and reconstruction of the eastern section of the Washington Boulevard inKingston on February 19. Looking on at 2nd right is Chief Executive Officer, NationalWorks Agency, Patrick Wong.Cont’d on page 8


The Ministry of Transport andWorks maintained its road reha-bilitation and enhancement pro-

gramme throughout the year, addressingcritical corridors, and bridges andinstalling traffic signals in a bid to easecongestion, and provide for the smoothmovement of traffic and pedestrians.

Widening ofWashington Boulevard

In February, portfolio Minister,Hon. Michael Henry, broke ground forthe widening and reconstruction of theeastern end of the WashingtonBoulevard corridor in Kingston. The proj-ect, which is expected to last for 16months, is being funded by theGovernment of Jamaica (GoJ)/ and theCaribbean Development Bank (CDB)at a cost of US$23.4 million andinvolves 2.75 kilometres of roadwayfrom the Molynes Road intersection tothe junction at Dunrobin Avenue andConstant Spring Road.

Phase II of infrastructural rehabili-tation and repairs along the Roselleroadway in St. Thomas, comprisingshoreline protection works, also gotunderway during the year.

The project, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) ata cost of $230 million, addressesapproximately 1.3 kilometres of failedroadway. Minister Henry pointed outthat the preparatory works were intendedto reduce disruption in the flow of traf-fic along that corridor and protect theshoreline.

The eastern end of the island contin-ued to receive much needed road improve-ment works during the year, with the$4.5 million rehabilitation of theRoslyn main road in Albion Mountain,St. Mary. The road was resurfaced with$2.7 million from the European Union(EU) and $1.8 million from the St.Mary Parish Council.

The 10-kilometre Gutters to FreeTown main road was rehabilitated at acost $141 million funded from the taxon fuel, which is channeled through theRoad Maintenance Fund.

Meanwhile, repair has been under-taken on the Mandela Highway inresponse to wide-scale commuter chal-lenges along that critical corridor.

Bridges The Waterloo Road Bridge in St.

Andrew, constructed at a cost ofUS$5.5 million under the Governmentof Jamaica/ R.A Murray Priority BridgeProgramme, was officially opened onMay 15. The project was one of severalbridges opened by Minister Henry. Theothers included Fairfield Bridge in St.James at a cost of $169 million and theQueen’s River Bridge in Hanover at a costof $89 million.

Meanwhile, the Dry River Bridgein Harbour View, St. Andrew, whichwas destroyed by Tropical StormGustav almost two years ago, is beingconstructed at cost of $791 million.Work on the permanent structure beganin August.

In Portland, work on the Rio GrandeBridge was scheduled to start inDecember, to replace the rail bridge,which has been in use since 2005. Theproject is being funded jointly by theGovernments of Jamaica and China,under the Jamaica Road DevelopmentInfrastructure Programme (JDIP).

In the meantime, the reconstructionof the Harbour Head Bridge in St.Thomas was brought forward from itsoriginal schedule, and is slated to getunderway by the end of the currentfinancial year.

River TrainingAdditionally, two other contracts

valued at $15.6 million each, wereawarded to Surrey Paving andAggregates Limited, and Gabion &Structures Company Limited for river

training works on the Yallahs River inSt. Thomas.

Sandy GullyThe Sandy Gully, which has been a

major challenge over the years, is to be

restored at a cost US$27 million. Thefirst phase of implementation is $1.44billion and will focus exclusively on theSandy Gully drainage network, whichwas extensively damaged by Nicole.

Work Done on MajorROADS, BRIDGES In 2010

and Rehabilitation Works project.Financed by a $65.3 million loan fromthe China EXIM Bank, the project,which began in July, will repair andsecure the extensively degradedshoreline of the Palisadoes peninsulain Kingston over 18 months.

Speaking at the launch of theproject in April, Chief ExecutiveOfficer (CEO) of the National WorksAgency, Patrick Wong, noted that the

protection of the shoreline was criti-cal. The peninsula provides protectionfor downtown Kingston and Portmore,as well as several large businesses alongthe road such as Carib Cement.

The Palisadoes main road is theonly access route to Kingston’s majorairport, the Norman ManleyInternational Airport, as well as thehistoric town of Port Royal. However,for several hurricane seasons the

peninsula, considered one ofJamaica's most vital pieces of infra-structure, is often made impassable bywater and debris, preventing personsfrom leaving the island. The contractwill be executed by CHEC and theChinese government. The ChineseEXIM Bank which is providing 85 percent financing, while the Govern-ment of Jamaica is putting up theremaining 15 per cent

Programme Launched in 2010ROAD – Cont’d from page 7

A section of the Bog Walk Bridge in St. Catherine which was re-opened recently.

A section of the new Waterloo Bridge in St. Andrew, which was officially opened in May.

– by Alphea Saunders


THE TOURISM industry per-formed admirably in 2010,despite the challenges of the

world recession, which impacted thepockets of persons worldwide whowished to travel.

Having received in excess of 1.5million visitors from stop over andcruise ship arrivals up to September2010, which generated more thanUS$2.4 billion in earnings, the countryconsolidated its position as one of themost sought-after vacation destinationsin the Caribbean.

The growth momentum in the sec-tor was a carry over from 2009, whenJamaica welcomed some 1.8 millionstop over and cruise ship visitors, repre-senting a 3.6 per cent increase over the

previous year. For 2010, it was projectedthat the industry would grow by fourper cent over 2009.

When the civil unrest in WestKingston threatened to put a damper onthe sector, Tourism Minister, Hon.Edmund Bartlett, armed with a US$10million stimulus package in June, led apromotional blitz into the prime blueribbon North American and Europeanmarkets.

The range of activities undertakenincorporated advertising as well asmeetings with various stakeholderinterests, including the JamaicanDiaspora, in major cities in the UnitedStates, Canada, and the UnitedKingdom, which account for approxi-mately 95 per cent of visitor arrivals.

Consequent on these initiatives,Minister Bartlett told journalists at amedia briefing in November, that theisland recorded over 200,000 stop overand cruise ship visitors during the Julyto September quarter, representing a 7.7per cent increase compared to the corre-sponding period last year. With cruiseship and stop over arrivals recording19.3 and 3.7 per cent increases, respec-tively, for the quarter.

Additionally, the Minister advisedthat preliminary figures for Octoberstop over and cruise ship arrivals alsoreflected increases of 4.6 per cent and3.3 per cent, respectively.

Jamaica continued to be at the fore-front of CARICOM’s lobby effortsseeking a review of the provisions ofthe Airline Passenger Duty (APD)regime by the British Government.

Jamaica was instrumental in leadingthe development of a tourism strategyfor earthquake-ravaged Haiti’s econom-ic recovery. Mr. Bartlett informed thatthe strategy, dubbed the Montego BayInitiative, will be formulated from ele-ments of Jamaica’s Tourism MasterPlan, and will seek to position tourism

as one of the main pillars for Haiti’seconomic development, the othersbeing agriculture and light manufacturing.

On the home front, several activitiesand initiatives were undertaken or short-listed for execution as part of efforts toenhance the tourism product and makethe Jamaican vacation the experience ofa lifetime, both for visitors and locals.These activities included upgrading theBath and Milk River spas in St. Thomasand Clarendon, respectively, at a cost of$250 million; and implementing phasefour works under the ‘Spruce UpJamaica’ Campaign. The campaign iscontracted to the National Solid WasteManagement Authority (NSWMA) toeffect all-island bushing, cutting ofmedians and verges along roadways,and the carting of debris in MontegoBay, Negril and Ocho Rios, over one-year,at a cost of $100 million.

Heritage tourism also got a boost withthe re-opening of the historic Devon Housein St. Andrew, which was refurbishedover two years at a cost of approximately$102 million, with funding provided bythe Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

Also completed were phase oneworks under the Port Royal Restorationproject, also funded by the TEF, at a costof over $72 million, involving therehabilitation of key monuments in thearea.

Minister Bartlett said Jamaica isalso expected to benefit from anincrease in the number of weekly flightsbetween Canada and Jamaica during thelatter quarter of the 2010/11 wintertourist season.

In an effort to position the sector asa significant catalyst for national eco-nomic growth, Minister Bartlettannounced the establishment of a spe-cial task force, which he said would“lead the process of determining theaggregate demand for goods and servicesin the tourist industry.”

Minister Bartlett’s hard work insafeguarding Jamaica’s tourism product

did not go unnoticed, as he was con-ferred with the Spanish honour ofCommander of Number of the Order ofCivil Merit of Spain by immediate pastSpanish Ambassador to Jamaica, HisExcellency Jesus Silva.

The Minister was recognised for‘his efforts at strengthening the rela-tionship between Spain and Jamaica inhis current portfolio responsibility aswell as during his tenure as OppositionSpokesman for Tourism’.

“Minister Bartlett has played a piv-otal role in ensuring the smooth opera-tions of the Spanish investment projectsin the tourism sector,” a citation fromthe Spanish Embassy stated.

Spanish investment in the touristindustry has added almost 6,000 rooms,and resulted in the creation of over 7,000direct jobs and some 20,000 indirect jobs.

– by Douglas McIntoshTOURISM Defied Odds in 2010

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (centre), addresses journalistsat the Ministry’s offices in Kingston. Also pictured are: Jamaica Hoteland Tourist Association (JHTA) President, Wayne Cummings (left),and GraceKennedy’s Chief Operation Officer, Don Wehby.

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left), presents the one millionthvisitor to the island in 2010, Angela Wilson (centre), and husband,Aaron Wilson (2nd right) of New York, USA, with a gift, on their arrivalat the Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, in August. Sharingin the occasion are: Tourism Director and Chairman, Jamaica TouristBoard (JTB), John Lynch (2nd left), and Jamaica Hotel and TouristAssociation (JHTA) Montego Bay Area Chairman, Omar Robinson.

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (right), and Tourism Directorand Chairman, Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), John Lynch, outside theBritish Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) offices in central London,during the Ministry’s advertising and promotions campaign undertakenin the United Kingdom in June.


AGRICULTURE CON-TINUED to be a keyarea of growth in

Jamaica’s economy in 2010,with an overall increase in out-put, as well as the introductionof several initiatives designedto thrust the sector forward.

Production figures releasedin September showed a 5.8 percent increase for the July toSeptember quarter, when com-pared with the correspondingperiod for 2009, with domesticfood crop production up by13.5 per cent. The figure wasalso a 16 per cent increase overthe April to June quarter, whichwas plagued by severe drought.

During 2010, the Ministryof Agriculture and Fisheriesembarked on a programme toformalise the AgriculturalLand Use Policy, to specifyhow agricultural lands are to beutilised, and in the case ofGovernment leases, the termsand conditions of leasingarrangements.

The Arable Lands Irrigatedand Growing for the Nation(ALIGN) Programme waslaunched in February, to putmost arable lands with accessto water, back into production.The programme targetted puttingat least 5,153 acres of previ-ously idle lands back to work.

The multifaceted approachto improving agricultural pro-ductivity also extended to theMinistry’s helping farmers toimprove their on-farm watermanagement, with a $20 mil-lion rainwater harvesting pilotproject on farms in St.Elizabeth, funded by the Foodand Agriculture Organization(FAO). Additionally, the Ministryis exploring the use of mined-out bauxite lands as catchmentareas and reservoirs.

Post-harvest Infrastructure

Following up on theMinistry’s plans to improve thecountry’s post-harvest infra-structure, portfolio Minister,Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton,opened a yam packaging facilityat Wait-a-Bit, South Trelawnyon February 22, for the localand export markets.

Meanwhile, in September,the Ministry signed a leaseagreement with GraceKennedyLimited for the company tooperate an 8,800 square foot post-harvest and packaging facility,at Hounslow in St. Elizabeth,at a cost of $49 million, while

$50 million in equipment wasmade available to kick start themechanisation process withinthe agricultural sector.

Rice ProductionIn July, the Ministry

received machinery valued at$60.4 million from theGovernment of the People’sRepublic of China, in a bid toincrease rice production in theisland. The equipment includedharvesters, drying machines,seedling transplanters, tractors,harrows, ploughs and trucks.Currently, Jamaica imports all

of the 100,000 tonnes of riceconsumed annually, and Dr.Tufton is aiming for the countryto produce at least 20 per centof Jamaica’s rice consumptionneeds.

Ginger Resuscitation Project

The ginger resuscitationproject was also launched bythe Minister in 2010, aimed atboosting production of the cropfor the local and overseas mar-kets, and addressing the rhi-zome rot disease that has beenplaguing the industry since themid-1990s. Some 31,500square feet of greenhousespace with 4,200 tissue cultureplantlets will be provided toyield at least 336,000 disease-free seeds per crop cycle. Thethree-year project is beingundertaken in collaboration withthe Christiana Potato Growers

Co-operative Association with$12.4 million allocated for thefirst year.

The Ministry also gaveattention to other industries indecline, such as dairy, banana,sugar and cocoa. TheGovernment entered a secondpre-financing sugar agreementfor the 2010-2011 and 2011 –2012 crop years. Under thearrangement, Tate and Lyle ofBritain will provide US$26million and US$20 million inpartial pre-financing for thenext two crop years, in

exchange for 100,000 tonnes ofraw sugar per annum. TheGovernment, in collaborationwith the European Union, isproviding support to rehabili-tate about 3,000 hectares ofcocoa, to install cocoa dryinginfrastructure on farms, todevelop new varieties and tostrengthen the farmer organisa-tions in the sector.

At the end of November,the Ministry launched a $50

million Glut Management Fund,geared at purchasing fresh pro-duce in bulk for storage whenthere is an overabundance.

In October, the farmingsector recorded significant lossesas a result of rains associated withTropical Storm Nicole. Dr. Tuftonnoted that the sector was setback a little over $1 billion, asa result of loss of livestock andcrops as well as damage to farmroads and other infrastructure.

THE FISHING industry, underthe Ministry of Agricultureand Fisheries, received signif-icant attention during 2010,with protection and conserva-tion of the country’s fish stockbeing the priority.

As part of this thrust, theMinistry trained a number ofthe island’s fisheries officersin a five-week extension train-ing course at its FisheriesDivision on Marcus GarveyDrive in Kingston.

The course formed part ofcapacity building activitiesbeing implemented under thesustainable marine fisheriesmanagement component of theImproving Jamaica AgricultureProductivity Project (IJAPP).

They are currently pro-

viding extension services tothe over 40,000 fisherfolk,educating them on how toensure their safety at sea;what measures to take so thatonly mature fish are caught;and how to protect the fishsanctuaries for one sustain-ability of the sector.

The IJAPP is a three-yearproject, funded at a cost ofjust over C$5 million by theCanadian International Develop-ment Agency (CIDA), theInter-American Institute forCo-operation on Agriculture(IICA) and the Ministry ofAgriculture and Fisheries.

The Ministry also workedon completing the new designwork to curb the erosion of theAlligator Pond Fishing Beach,

in Manchester.In July, the Minister

launched the anticipated fishwire project, which imposes anew minimum size for themesh wire used in fish pots.The move increases the mini-mum size of the fish whichcan be caught and keeps outimmature fish, contributing tothe sustainability of theisland’s fish resources. Fourhundred and fifty fishers wereselected for the programme,each of whom was given a rollof 1.5 inch mesh wire.

The Ministry also embarkedon a new phase in the driveagainst praedial larceny, aimedat safeguarding Jamaica’s lob-ster population, to ensure itslong term sustainability.

For Growth 2010

Continued to Blossom in 2010AGRICULTURE – by Debbie-Ann Wright

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. ChristopherTufton (right), looks at the keys for rice productionequipment, presented by the People’s Republic China’sAmbassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Chen Jinghua(left). Also sharing in the occasion are PermanentSecretary in the Ministry, Donovan Stanberry (2nd right)and Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ),Professor Gladstone Hutchinson.

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding (2nd left) examinesseedlings at the Hounslow Research Centre andDemonstration Plot, in St. Elizabeth. Others (from left)are: Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr.Christopher Tufton; Chief Executive Officer of the theNational Irrigation Commision (NIC), Stanley Rampairand Communication Specialist with the NIC, PatriciaTyrell-Chung.

FISHING – by Debbie-Ann Wright

THE YEAR 2010 was aneventful one for theMinistry of Education

(MoE), marked by manyachievements and challengesas it worked to create a firstclass education system forJamaica.

On March 25 and 26, some48,200 students sat the GradeSix Achievement Test (GSAT)for placement in high schoolsisland-wide, and following theresults in June, it was notedthat performance in all subjectshad improved, including thecritical subjects of Mathematicsand Science.

“This year is a unique year,in that for the 11 years that, wehave had GSAT, all subjectareas showed an increase in themean performance…it meansthat students are doing betterright across the board,” saidMinister of Education, Hon.Andrew Holness, at a pressconference on June 21 atJamaica House.

Less than a month later,the Ministry commenced theunveiling of several proposals,which are expected to signifi-cantly change the current struc-ture of the GSAT exam, duringseveral public consultations.

And, while the GSAT wasbeing reviewed, MinisterHolness announced that therewere ‘significant improve-ments’ in the results of thisyear’s tests administered by theCaribbean Examinations Council(CXC).

On another note, Cabinetapproved the new policy posi-tion on Government subsidiesfor students pursuing the

Caribbean Examinations Council(CXC) examinations.

At the early childhood level,Minister Holness announcedthat the Government would beinvesting more resources inearly childhood education,with the subsidy to the sectorto double over the next twoyears. In the meantime, theEarly Childhood Commission

(ECC) launched its “We HaveRights Too” booklet, whichMinister Holness emphasisedshould be made available to allparents.

A Memorandum ofUnderstanding was signedbetween the Ministry and theMutual Building SocietiesFoundation, for a Centre ofExcellence Project, aimed atimproving the managementsystems and teaching method-ologies in six non-traditionalhigh schools.

As it relates to infrastruc-tural development, three newschools came into operation inSeptember offering over 2,000spaces. They are: Fruitful ValePrimary in Portland, SheffieldPrimary in Westmoreland, andSteer Town High in St. Ann.

Under the Ministry’s BasicSchool Project, contracts were

awarded for the construction offive additional basic schoolsand resource centres.

Phase two of the CareerAdvancement Programme(CAP) was rolled out to another54 schools this year, bringingthe total to 65 schools. MinisterHolness said the aim was toincrease enrolment to about20,000 students.

The Education SystemTransformation Programme(ESTP), which will givegreater focus to the reform ofthe systems, business processesand quality of the sector, wasalso officially launched in June.

In the meantime, Cabinetapproved the establishment ofa special school in Malvern,St. Elizabeth, to accommodatestudents with disruptive behav-iour. It is to be completed byJanuary 2011 and will accom-modate at least 50 students.

A National Education Trustwas formed to make it easierfor local and overseas intereststo donate to Jamaican schools.

Nearing the end of the year, aGrade Seven InterventionProgramme (GSIP) was intro-duced to benefit approximately10,000 students from 80 highschools. The GSIP will providestrategic support to GradeSeven students who receivedcut scores of 33 per cent andbelow, in the GSAT LanguageArts Exam.

All in all, the Ministry’sactivities in 2010 signal thatthere are many developments tocome in the new year to benefitall students, parents and otherstakeholders in education.


Success and ChallengesEDUCATION: – by Odette Baron

Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness, conferswith Permanent Secretary, Audrey Sewell (left), andChief Education Officer, Grace McClean, at the June 1press conference at Jamaica House to announce theresults of the 2010 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

Education Minister, Hon. Andrew Holness, reads to students of the Drews AvenuePrimary School in Kingston, during the final leg of the Western Union Reading Weekin April.


HEALTHThe year 2010 was one

of achievement for theMinistry of Health, as it

carried out its mandate to pro-vide Jamaicans with access toquality health care.

Extensive infrastructureupgrading work was carriedout in primary and secondaryhealth care with new servicesoffered; more health workerswere trained and placed infacilities, while moreJamaicans benefitted from freehealth care.

Infrastructure Workand New Services

Some $307 million wasexpended for upgrading workin the southern health regionlast year, with $222 millionspent on projects to expand andimprove the Spanish TownHospital.

On September 14, Ministerof Health, Hon. RudyardSpencer, broke ground for theconstruction of a women’s cen-tre at the Spanish TownHospital. This facility will pro-vide colposcopy services,counselling and social servicesfor women in Jamaica and thewider CARICOM Community.

A total of $54 million wasspent on renovation work at theNational Chest Hospital inKingston, including the con-struction of a fence, renovationof the eye ward, physiotherapyunit, nursing hostel, kitchenand bathrooms and the pur-chasing of equipment.

Works valued at $25 mil-lion was undertaken at theKingston Public and Victoria

Jubilee Hospitals. This includedrenovation of Edwina East andWest, fifth floor of the VictoriaJubilee Hospital, upgrading ofthe oxygen system and pur-chases for the EndoscopicUnit.

In the North East region, anew dental facility was con-structed at the Port MariaHospital and medical technolo-gists and technical assistantsemployed at a cost of morethan $17 million.

In the Western Region, anew Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

and a Chemotherapy Suite wasopened at the CornwallRegional Hospital, MontegoBay in March. The hospitalstarted offering neurologicalservices in March of this yearand has carried out 63 surgeriesat a cost $112.3 million.

A new Radiology Depart-ment opened in March at theNoel Holmes Hospital inHanover and the facility startedoffering laboratory services inMay 2010.

Ground was broken onApril 6 for expansion of theLionel Town Hospital’s trainingfacility in Clarendon. Thefacility, funded by the NationalHealth Fund (NHF) at a cost of$69.7 million, will be able totrain 60 students annually.

A number of clinics wererebuilt, upgraded or refur-bished, under the primary carerenewal programme. Work wascompleted on 44 health centresin 13 parishes under phase oneof the programme.

Free HealthcareSince its implementation

in 2008, the Abolition of UserFees Policy continues to have aremarkable impact in terms ofthe increased use of publichealth facilities and has resultedin significant savings for manyJamaicans.

Minister Spencer, in hisSectoral presentation inSeptember, informed that thou-

sands of Jamaicans, who usethe public health system forselected services, saved $4.14billion over the two-year period.

“Outpatient and accidentand emergency patients saved$793.7 million and those whoaccessed pharmaceuticals andmedical supplies at our phar-macy windows saved $1.47billion,” he informed.

With the abolition of userfees, the Health Ministry hasbeen encouraging more

Jamaicans to take advantage ofthe clinics to reduce the burdenon the hospitals. MinisterSpencer said that the thrust isworking, with visits to healthcentres reaching over threemillion up to April 2010.

Partnership with Cuba

Jamaicans with serious eyeconditions continued to benefitfrom much-needed assistanceunder the Jamaica/Cuba EyeCare Programme. As part ofthe agreement, an eye care cen-tre was opened at the St.Joseph’s Hospital in Kingstonon January 27 and operationsbegan in March.

Minister Spencer said thatthe programme “is a complementto the Government’s no userfees policy and that with thefacility, the choices available tothose in need of ophthalmiccare, but are unable to affordtreatment, have been widened.”

In total, 1,111 eye surgerieshave been successfully per-formed at the facility, with4,237 persons screened, while3,093 post-operation evalua-tions have been conducted withno reports of complications.

In the meantime, 51 regis-tered nurses were recruitedfrom Cuba to serve in six areasincluding primary health care,paediatrics, accident and emer-gency and operating theatres.

Improvements Carried Out as Ministry Increased Access to Care– by Latoya Pennant

Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer (3rd right), and former SpanishAmbassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Jesus Silva (3rd left), break ground for theQueen of Sophia Wing at the Spanish Town Hospital, St. Catherine. Looking on (fromleft) are): Opposition Member of Parliament for South Central St Catherine, SharonHaye-Webster; Mayor of Spanish Town, Councillor Dr. Andrew Wheatly; Chairman ofthe South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), Lyttleton Shirley; and Oppositionspokesman on Health, Dr. Fenton Ferguson.

Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer (centre), andCuban Ambassador, His Excellency Yuri Gala Lopez(right), exchange a few words with 78-year-old JosephLaing, following his eye surgery at the Jamaica/CubaOphthalmology Centre, located at the St. Joseph’sHospital in Kingston, in April.

Amajor achievementof the Ministry ofHealth in 2010 was

the implementation of thenew Child Health andDevelopment Passport (CHDP),which is a comprehensivetake home record of a child’shealth and development frombirth to 17 years.

The passport was imple-mented in collaboration withthe Early Childhood Com-mission, through fundingfrom the World Bank.

As of September 1, 2010,it became mandatory for allnewborn infants to possess acopy of the CHDP. Thisshould be used at each visit toa health facility and at periodicintervals throughout the

school system.The booklet, complete

with a section for the child’simmunisation record, willeventually replace the existingimmunisation card. It alsocontains information on nutri-tional health; oral health;childhood illnesses, injuriesand referrals; parenting andsafety tips; educationalassessment and information,among other information.

Nearly four thousand(4000) copies of the CHDPhave been issued since theimplementation of the docu-ment on September 1 thisyear. Approximately 45,000infants are expected to pos-sess the essential booklet byAugust 31 next year.

HEALTHChild and DevelopmentPassport Implemented


The country reaped sig-nificant success incrime fighting in 2010

as, for the first time in manyyears, the number of majorcrimes declined consecutivelyin the latter part of the year.

Between January andOctober, murders amounted to1,189, some 189 less than thesimilar period last year, withSeptember accounting for thelowest crime rate in any singlemonth. This was due to theenhanced crime fighting measuresrolled out by the JamaicaConstabulary Force (JCF), underthe leadership of Commissionerof Police, Owen Ellington, withsupport from the JamaicaDefence Force (JDF).

The Minister of NationalSecurity, Senator the Hon.Dwight Nelson, provided policysupport for the Security Forcesin the campaign.

According to statisticsreleased by the JamaicaConstabulary Force (JCF),murders fell consecutivelybelow 100 for the months ofJuly, August, September, Octoberand November. The statistics alsoshowed that reported cases ofshooting, rape, carnal abuse,robbery and larceny betweenJanuary and September totalled401, much less than the figurein 2009.

Increase in JCF Operations

The JCF reported a 36 percent increase in operations in2010, compared to last year. FromJanuary to October 2010, a totalof 6,628 operations were con-ducted as against 4,752 in 2009.

There was also a signifi-cant increase in arrests andcharges during the operationsconducted in 2010. Approxi-mately 38,475 persons werearrested and charged during thoseoperations, as against 29,515 in2009, a difference of 8,910.

Some 801 firearms wererecovered, as against 565 in2009, while 33,393 rounds ofammunition were recovered, asagainst 4,658 rounds in 2009.Some 86,800 offensive weaponswere seized, compared with44,299 in 2009.

Significant inroads werealso made in transnationalcriminal activities, with theJCF reporting that financialcrimes dipped as a result ofsustained law enforcementefforts. The two significant

areas which figured prominentlyin police investigations, partic-ularly over the last five years,were fraud and money launder-ing. The JCF reported that theproceeds generated and theassets acquired by unscrupu-lous persons engaging in finan-cial crimes over the past fiveyears, amounted to upwardsof $15 billion.

The JCF continued it rigor-ous anti-corruption drive withthe implementation of an anti-corruption strategy in January.Months after the implemen-

tation of the anti-corruptionstrategy, 149 police officerswere booted from the force forunprofessional conduct.

The anti-corruption strategyis a three-year plan with theaim of restoring public safetyand confidence; to boost themorale and confidence of JCFmembers and auxiliaries, andto improve effective internaland external communications.

Following the expirationof the 30-day State of PublicEmergency, which resultedfrom the May 23 major

police/military operation inWest Kingston, the JCFlaunched its multi-prongedanti-crime strategies in July.

The anti-crime strategiesentailed increased communitypolicing efforts, intensificationand expansion of the JCF’sstreet crime units across allgeographic divisions, spear-headed by the flying squad.

In an effort to strengthencollaboration with otherCaribbean countries in thefight against crime, Jamaica

launched a regional crime stopcall centre in September. TheLIME/Crime Stop CaribbeanCall Centre is expected toimprove the communicationability of Crime Stop, in assistingother Caribbean law enforce-ment agencies to fight crime intheir countries.

In addition to helping tosolve crime at the regionallevel, the centre will also gen-erate income through an annualcharge to the countries whichwill benefit from the service.

CRIMESignificant Reduction inin 2010 – by Lesline Gilzene

Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington listens to resi-dents of Tivoli Gardens during a tour of the communityafter a major police/military operation in May 2010.

The infrastructure of theJamaica Consta-bulary Force (JCF)

received much attention in2010, with upgrading workundertaken on several build-ings to improve accommoda-tion for police personnel.

In May, Minister ofNational Security, Senator theHon. Dwight Nelson openedthe Anchovy Police Station inSt. James, to which the policeofficers were relocated. Thebuilding was refurbished andretrofitted at a cost of approx-imately $5.4 million.

The Hope Bay Police inPortland also received a newhome in February, after theMinistry refurbished a cottageat a cost of approximately $10million. The three bedroomcottage was modified, withpartitions put in to provideworking space.

A new Police Station wasopened in Salt Spring, St.James, in May. The MontegoHills Police Station was com-missioned to combat criminalactivities in the area, providing

space for more police officersto respond quickly to theneeds of the community, par-ticularly as the terrain is dif-ficult to traverse.

Corporate entities, NationalCommercial Bank (NCB),LIME and Supreme Ventures(SVL) jointly contributed $6million to restore the DarlingStreet Police Station in down-town Kingston, which wasdamaged during the civil

unrest in sections of WestKingston during May.

The Alligator Pond PoliceStation in Manchester waspainted by ex-police officers,while windows were replacedby the bauxite and aluminacompany, Alpart, through itsCommunity Council, and theAlligator Pond community ata cost of over $200,000.

Crime Scene Investigation(CSI) and community polic-

ing capabilities received a sig-nificant boost, with three cus-tomised mobile police officesand three fully equippedmobile forensic units donatedby the United Kingdom’sDepartment for InternationalDevelopment (DFID), in July.

The mobile policeoffices, which are equippedwith technical equipment toenhance service delivery, anda refrigerator to preserveforensic evidence, were pro-vided at a cost of some $61million. The units are alsoequipped with a generator,lighting, tent and other techni-cal equipment.

The JCF also receivedsupport from internationalpartner, the Royal CanadianMounted Police (RCMP),which handed over five com-puters to the Force inSeptember. The computerswere handed over to theTransnational Crimes andNarcotics Division and otherdepartments of the JCF, toassist with drug interdictionand training activities.

Much Focus on Upgrading JCF Infrastructure in 2010– by Lesline Gilzene

Minister of National Security, Senator the Hon. DwightNelson

The new Police Station in Bath, St. Thomas


DURING THE year, theMinistry of Justiceundertook several pro-

jects to continue improving thejustice system.

In February, ground wasbroken in Lucea, Hanover forthe construction of a modernfamily court, fully equipped withtechnology and amenities con-sistent with a state-of-the artfacility. The project is funded bythe European Union (EU) at acost of $87.5 million and is beingfinanced under the PovertyReduction Programme (PRP) 2.

The structure will consistof two courtrooms, two judges’chambers, two attorney inter-viewing rooms, and offices forthe clerk of court and otheradministrative officers. Otherfeatures include three coun-selling rooms, children waitingarea, nursing and play areas,holding areas for males andfemales, separate holding areafor young offenders, officespace for counselling and pro-bation officers, court reportingfacilities, and a library.

Meanwhile, in its fightagainst human trafficking,eight suspected cases of humantrafficking were successfullyinvestigated by the police andbrought before the courts,yielding two convictions.

This was disclosed byAttorney General and Ministerof Justice, Senator the Hon.Dorothy Lightbourne, at theopening of a two-day work-shop on the theme: ‘HumanTrafficking: A Legal, Medical/Health Care, Economic andSocial Dilemma’, at theUniversity of the West Indies.

Also in February, theMinistry held reconciliationworkshops for 55 ‘at risk’teenagers from inner-city com-munities in Kingston, St. Andrew,St. Catherine and Clarendon, atMorgan’s Harbour Hotel, PortRoyal under the theme:“Making Jamaica the Place ofChoice to Live, Work, RaiseFamilies and Do Business”.Organised by the VictimSupport Unit (VSU) in theMinistry, the workshop attractedyoung persons from 13 to 18years of age.

In addition, the Ministry,through its Restorative andCommunity Justice (RCJ) Unit,trained 98 additional personsas Restorative and CommunityJustice Facilitators, as part ofthe initiative to improve the

justice system. The trainingworkshop was held fromAugust 23 to 26, at the ShawPark Beach Hotel and Spa inOcho Rios, St. Ann.

Justice Reform Co-ordina-tor, Beverly Little, told JISNews that the participants werecertified in several courses,including: ‘Introduction toRestorative Practices’, ‘Facili-tating Restorative Conferences’and ‘Using Circles Effectively’.

The participants weredrawn from all parishes andseveral organisations. Repre-sentatives from Corporate Areacommunities, Tivoli Gardens,Grants Pen and ManleyMeadows, also took part.

The Restorative JusticeProject was initiated with a for-mal request from the Ministryof Justice to the CanadianInternational DevelopmentAgency (CIDA), through theCanadian-Caribbean Fund (CCF). Meanwhile, a three-dayResident Magistrates TrainingSeminar in Child Rights andInternational Protocols washeld at Breezes Runaway BayResort and Spa, in November. During the seminar, the JusticeMinister informed that theUnited Nations Children’sFund (UNICEF) has committedfunding of more than $22 mil-lion toward the implementationof the National Child ProtectionProgramme.

The funding will gotoward capacity building forthe judiciary, resident magis-trates, prosecutors and clerk ofcourts, and other individualsinvolved in child justice, to

uphold the rights of child vic-tims and offenders.

The work of the DisputeResolution Foundation (DRF)was bolstered by a $34 millioninjection from the EuropeanUnion for a project dubbed,‘We Want Justice’.

This project, which aims toadvance democratic rightsthrough the promotion of alter-

native dispute resolution, waslaunched in March. It aims tocarry out its mandate throughmediation, arbitration andrestorative justice practices.

The Emergency Powers Re-view Tribunal began its hearingsin June at its official location at2D Camp Road in Kingston.

The Tribunal was appointedby the Government to reviewcases of detention and restrictionof citizens by the security

forces under the limited state ofemergency that was enforced inthe parishes of Kingston, St.Andrew and St. Catherine. TheChief Justice appointed PamelaBenka-Coker, Q.C. Chairmanof the Tribunal.

During the year, severaljudges were appointed to higheroffice by Governor-General,His Excellency the Most Hon.Sir Patrick Allen, to boost thejustice system.

Much Emphasis on Improving the JUSTICE System – by Latonya Linton

Chief Justice, the Hon. Mrs. Justice Zaila McCalla (right)speaks with finalists of the Junior Debate International,prior to the start of the 21st finals of the debate at thePolice Officers’ Club in Kingston on Friday, June 18.The competitors from left are: Albion Primary Schoolstudents, Ferona Robinson, Prescilla Cumrie, TashayTaylor; and Hillel Academy Preparatory School student,Amanda Tayor.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator theHon. Dorothy Lightbourne (right), listens atentively tothe point being made by Head of Delegation of theEuropean Commission in Jamaica, Marco MazzocchiAlemanni, about the designs of the Lucea Family Court.


The Ministry of Youth,Sports and Culturescored many successes

in 2010, as it continued toempower young Jamaicans,foster wide participation incultural activities, and institutemeasures to preserve the coun-try’s heritage, through itsDepartments and Agencies.

Youth Empowerment

The Youth Entrepreneur-ship Programme (YEP) whichwas designed to help youngpeople set up their own busi-ness, was transferred from theOffice of the Prime Minister tothe Ministry in 2010. AMemorandum of Understanding(MoU) signed between theMinistry and Jamaica YouthBusiness Trust (JYBT) willprovide training and otherbusiness support. Some $19million was injected into thefund by the Development Bankof Jamaica.

A National Youth Surveyto cost some $43 million is tobe completed in January 2011,and the National Youth Council

was revamped to enhance andextend its reach. Meanwhile,thousands of young persons arenow benefiting from the estab-lishment of the Marcus GarveyYouth Information Centre(YIC) in St. Ann.

Youth Month activitiesheld across the island includedworkshops, concerts and ayouth rally. Also, the biennialYute X 2010 Conference heldin late November, saw some200 young people from acrossthe island participating. For thefirst time, there were 14Labour Day projects selected

for national attention.

SportsAs it relates to the sports

portfolio, the country’s footballprogramme received a boostthis year, with the opening ofthe Jamaica FootballFederation (JFF) Centre ofExcellence at the Bowl ofExcellence, University of theWest Indies (UWI), Monacampus, in September. Thecentre, which comprises afield, administrative block andchanging room facilities repre-sents phase one of the ‘GoalProject’, which is being under-taken in four phases at a cost ofUS$4 million. The centre isexpected to boost preparationsfor the 2014 World Cup finalsin Brazil.

Meanwhile, Jamaicans,Usain Bolt and Tony Becca,were big winners at theCommonwealth Sports Awardsin Birmingham, England onNovember 6. Bolt won theOutstanding Male Athlete title,while veteran sports journalist,Becca, won the OutstandingSports Writer award.

Social Development Commission

During the year, severalschools received new andupgraded sports facilities withfunds provided through theSports Development Foundation.

To re-energise communityvolunteerism across the islandand to enhance local partner-ships with stakeholders, theSocial Development Commission(SDC) introduced a new pro-gramme called ‘CommunityCall of Duty’, which is an ini-tiative that will see SDC parish

offices coming together in zonesto execute community projectsin collaboration with businessenterprises and other stakeholders.During Community Month inNovember, the agency executedfive community projects in St.Catherine, Portland, Trelawny,Hanover and Manchester, val-ued at some $590,000.

National Library of Jamaica

Turning to other agenciesunder the auspices of theMinistry, the way was pavedfor the National Library ofJamaica (NLJ) to become fullyindependent of the Institute ofJamaica, with the passage of theNational Library of JamaicaAct 2010 in the House ofRepresentatives on November 9.

The NLJ, during the year,restored the Nuttall Collection,comprising letters and papersof the late Enos Nuttall, Bishopof Jamaica and Archbishop ofthe West Indies, 1863-1916.Also, the historic Sam SharpeRebellion of 1831 can now beviewed in digital format on theNLJ website. The facility alsomade available, digital talkingbooks, for visually impairedpersons. Funding for this proj-ect was provided by theCulture, Health, Arts, Sportsand Education (CHASE) Fundin collaboration with the RadioEducation Unit at UWI Mona.

The Institute ofJamaica

The Institute of Jamaica,through its Natural HistoryMuseum, launched a publication,

entitled: ‘Endemic Trees ofJamaica’. The 321-page publi-cation, which was funded bythe Environmental Foundationof Jamaica (EFJ) at a cost ofapproximately $5 million, docu-ments data on approximately316 species of endemic treesunder some 55 plant families.

In June, a programmetitled, ‘Unveiling a HiddenGem’, aimed at restoring a historicsite in Port Royal was developedby the Ministry (which hasresponsibility for heritage sites)and the Ministry of Tourism.

The programme, whichcost nearly $80 million,includes the rehabilitation ofFort Charles, cleaning ofBatteries, refurbishment of theMuseum, creation of an AudioVisual Theatre at the NavalHospital, reinforcement ofGiddy House, refurbishment ofSt. Peter’s Church, rehabilitationof Engineer’s Arch, and land-scaping of the surroundingareas. The sites will be man-aged by the Jamaica NationalHeritage Trust (JNHT).

Another national monu-ment, the historic SpanishTown Iron Bridge in St.Catherine, which was in a stateof disrepair was restored.Restoration work valued atsome $12 million was under-taken by the JNHT in collabo-ration with the Spanish TownIron Bridge Foundation, a non-governmental organisationestablished in 1996.

The JCDCThe re-branded image of

the Jamaica Cultural Develop-ment Commission (JCDC) wasanother major successes of theMinistry of Youth, Sports andCulture for 2010.

During the year, theagency modernised its imageand strengthened private sectorpartnerships while seeking toposition itself as Jamaica’s pre-mier agency for culture andentertainment.

In addition to theimproved physical appearanceof the building, the agency nowboosts a new logo, a souvenirgift shop, a museum of musicalinstruments and a staff lounge.

Portfolio Minister, Hon.Olivia Grange, said the re-branding strategy was specifi-cally designed to build on theresuscitation of the culturaldevelopment programme, whichstarted with the re-introductionof the Grand Gala in 2008.

Achieve Major SuccessesYOUTH, SPORTS & CULTURE – by Elaine Hartman Reckord

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. OliviaGrange, hugs 13-year-old St. George’s College student,Martin Davis, who relocated to Spain to continue hisschooling and to participate in the football programmewith the Spanish side, Valencia.

Youth, Sports and Culture Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange(2nd left), and Chief Executive Officer of the Culture,Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund,William ‘Billy’ Heaven (right), listen as Conservator inthe Audio Visual Unit, Jamaica Archives and RecordsDepartment (JARD), Kevin Garwood (left), explains thefunctions of some of the audio-visual equipment handedover to the entity by the CHASE Fund in April.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. OliviaGrange (left), greets Olympian and World Champion,Shelly-Ann Fraser, as she arrives for the opening of theYute X 2010 Conference in November, at the KnutsfordCourt Hotel in Kingston.


For 2010, the Ministry ofIndustry, Investmentand Commerce focused

primarily on efforts to promoteBrand Jamaica and to fosterinitiatives to boost the micro,small and medium enterprise(MSME) sector, entrepreneur-ship, investment, and com-merce.

The Ministry and its agen-cies, under the leadership ofportfolio Minister, Hon. KarlSamuda, hosted several expos,promotions, seminars andworkshops, and spearheadedprojects and initiatives allaimed at enhancing the devel-opment of the various sectors.

A major highlight for theyear was Jamaica’s participa-tion in Expo Shanghai 2010 inChina from May 1 to October 31.Jamaica showcased the best ofmanufacturing to the biggestworld audience with some 20local producers utilising theopportunity to tap into some ofthe largest and most affluentmarkets in the world.

The companies reportedsuccess in making new busi-ness contacts and promoting arange of local Jamaican foodand drink products in theUnited Kingdom, Europe andthe wider international mar-kets.

Back home in June, localmanufacturers got the chanceto market their goods and serv-ices and network with interna-tional buyers at EXPO Jamaica

2010, which was held fromJune 17 to 20 at the NationalArena in Kingston. The biennialevent, hailed as theCaribbean’s premiere tradeshow, was themed ‘BrandJamaica to the World!’ and fea-tured more than 2,000Jamaican products rangingfrom art and craft and fashion,to information communicationtechnology, and packaging andlabelling.

On May 12, the JamaicaBusiness Development Corpo-ration (JBDC) hosted its thirdannual one-day small businessexposition, at the HiltonKingston Hotel. Dubbed:‘Plan-Strategise-Grow’, the eventfeatured an interesting mix ofpresentations and displays,geared specifically at prospec-tive and existing entrepreneursseeking information to assistthem in start-ups or improve-ments to existing businesses.

Also in May, the Universityof the West Indies (UWI), incollaboration with the Ministryand JAMPRO, hosted a seriesof symposia aimed at stimulatingfurther discussions on the poli-cies that are required to fosterthe growth and development ofthe country’s MSME sector.

In June, the University ofTechnology’s (UTech) Facultyof Business Managementlaunched its School ofEntrepreneurship, the first ofits kind in the English-speaking

Caribbean.In that same month, 300

small and medium-sized busi-nesses operated by womenbenefitted from a project toimprove their business skillsand increase their access tofinance.

The project, valued at justunder $40 million, is beingfinanced by a grant of overUS$320,000 (approximatelyJ$28 million) from the Inter-American Development Bank/Multilateral Investment Fund(IDB/MIF) and over US$130,000(approximately J$11 million)raised by Women BusinessOwners (WBO) Jamaica Limited,which will manage the funds.

Matters relating to thesmall business sector formedthe basis of major discussionsat an inaugural conference,staged by the Small BusinessAssociation of Jamaica (SBAJ),in collaboration with theMinistry, on September 21 atthe Wyndham Kingston Hotel.

By November, the spot-light was on existing andpotential young entrepreneursthrough a week-long obser-vance from November 21 to 26,aimed at highlighting the sig-nificance of young entrepreneursto the nation’s development.

In that same month,Minister Samuda said thatefforts were being made to pro-vide the SBAJ with a $50 mil-lion loan facility to enable

expansion of its operations.The National Certification

Body of Jamaica (NCBJ)attained official authorisationto provide internationallyrecognised certification formanagement systems in andoutside of Jamaica.

The Jamaica IntellectualProperty Office (JIPO), in col-laboration with the SwissFederal Institute of IntellectualProperty (IPI) hosted a publiclecture on November 3 at theNorman Manley Law School,UWI, Mona to sensitise thepublic and local interests ongeographical indications (GIs)and how Jamaica can practiceand benefit from the system.

The Companies Office of

Jamaica (COJ) announced andimplemented changes in itsoperations in the latter part of2010.

On September 1, the COJimplemented Section 121 ofthe Companies Act, which willprovide for a penalty of $100per day up to a maximum of$10,000, to be paid on allAnnual Returns that are filed late.

Consumers were notignored during the year, as theMinistry, in collaboration withthe Consumer AffairsCommission (CAC) continuedits survey of prices in thevarious supermarkets and pub-lishing them, so that con-sumers could make betterchoices when shopping.

Big Effort to Promote SMALL BUSINESS in 2010– by Kadian Brown

Personal Assistant at Napier’s Patterns Mouldings andCastings, Carmen Barton, arranges some of the itemsthe company had on display at an event held by theSmall Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ).

State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investmentand Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern (left), is greeted byPast President of the Small Business Association ofJamaica (SBAJ), Oswald Smith (right), at an inauguralsmall business conference, staged by the SBAJ, incollaboration with the Ministry. Looking on (from secondleft) are: First Vice President of the SBAJ, Meredith Derbyand President, Dalma James.

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda (right), presentsProduct Development Officer at Dairy Industries Jamaica Limited, Jermaine Marti(2nd right), with the official International Standardisation Organization (ISO) 9001 cer-tification in February. Applauding (from left) are: Minister of State in the Ministry,Hon. Michael Stern; Head of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica, Noel Osbourne; andManager of the Certification Unit at the National Certification Body of Jamaica(NCBJ), Sheryl Mullings.


The impact of the eco-nomic recession glob-ally in 2010 did not

prevent the Ministry of Labourand Social Security from secur-ing employment opportunitiesabroad for many Jamaicas.

“In spite of the challenges,the Ministry was able to placemore than 10,000 Jamaicanworkers in employment oppor-tunities, both in the UnitedStates and Canada,” Ministerof Labour and Social Security,Hon. Pearnel Charles,informed the House ofRepresentatives in October.

Labour LawsDuring the year, the

Government remained com-mitted to protecting the rightsof workers. Speaking at a sem-inar on employment issuesheld at the Knutsford CourtHotel in Kingston in March,Minister Charles noted that theMinistry had taken a compre-hensive and holistic approachin reforming the labour laws.

He pointed to the House ofRepresentatives’ approval ofamendments to the EmploymentTermination and RedundancyPayments Act, to allow forincreased fines for companiesand individuals who breach thelaw, and informed the nationthat Jamaica was on the verge ofimplementing a new OccupationalSafety and Health Act, to pro-tect the welfare of Jamaicanemployees in the workplace.

Minimum Wage During the year, the

National Minimum Wage and

the Minimum Wage forIndustrial Security Guardswere reviewed and a series ofconsultations were undertakenby the Minimum WageAdvisory Commission. MinsterCharles informed that he hadcommissioned a study on whatconstituted a liveable wage, toinform the way forward. Thestudy is projected to be com-pleted by March 2011. Last year,the National Minimum Wagewas increased from $3,700 to$4,070 per 40-hour work week.

Additionally, the Employ-ment Termination and Redun-dancy Payments Act (ETRPA)was amended to require allemployers to report to theMinistry all proposed as wellas reported redundancies.

Industrial RelationsDespite a challenging year

for industrial relations, theMinistry still valiantly pursuedits mandate of promoting andmaintaining industrial harmonyat the workplace, through tri-partite dialogue.

Speaking at a function atthe Wyndham Hotel, NewKingston, in November, Mr.

Charles informed that betweenApril and September 2010, theMinistry had successfully dealtwith 87 industrial relations dis-putes, and 2,085 cases relatingto pay and employment.

Path Expanded

During 2010, the Ministryof Labour and Social Securitywidened the scope of its flag-ship social support initiative,the Programme for Advance-ment Through Health andEducation (PATH) to capturemore vulnerable Jamaicans andensure that they have access toeducation, health and socialservices, to cushion the effectsof the global recession. TheGovernment also increasedallocations under the pro-gramme by 25 per cent, bringingthe total amount available forthe year to $4 billion.

Boost from JapanDuring July, funding for

PATH was significantly boostedby a $215 million (US$2.49million) grant from the JapanSocial Development Fund. Theprovision, administered by theWorld Bank, should benefit

approximately 10,000 personsdeemed poor, as well as thevulnerable, elderly and dis-abled, who were not previouslyon the programme.

PATH Advancing EducationAlso, during the year, theMinistry acknowledged over100 top student achievers foroutstanding performance at theCaribbean Secondary EducationCertificate (CSEC) and GradeSix Achievement Test (GSAT)levels. Some 30 studentsreceived cash awards ofbetween $8,000 and $20,000,trophies and plaques.

This financial year, theMinistry budgeted $45 millionfor persons living in PATHhouseholds to get $15,000 eachas an incentive to continuetheir education.

Additionally, under PATH’sSteps-to-Work programme,which seeks to assist benefici-aries in creating sustainableearning opportunities, 17 per-sons, mainly women, receivedcheques totalling $377,000.Some US$2.1 million was pro-vided for the programme bythe World Bank for the project.

JOBS10,000

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. PearnelCharles (left), having a light discussion with ResidentCare Aides (RCAs), Veron Strachan (centre), and JanetGrant, following a meeting with them at the Ministry onNorth Street, in Kingston, in July. The RCAs were partof a group of seven, who left the country to take upemployment in Canada.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. PearnelCharles (right), in conversation with President of theHuman Resource Management Association of Jamaica(HRMAJ), Colin Barnett (left); and Daphne Johnson ofthe HRMAJ Secretariat at a two-day conference hostedby the Association at the Wyndham Hotel in Kingston onWednesday November 17.

Overseas Despite Recession – by Alecia Smith


THE RE-OPENING ofthe WINDALCO baux-ite plant in Clarendon,

the expansion of the WigtonWind Farm in Manchester andthe tabling of Jamaica’s firstNational Energy Policy wereamong the significant develop-ments in the energy and miningsector during 2010.

The re-opening of theWINDALCO bauxite plantprovided an important fillip toeconomic and social life inClarendon, and was a boost toJamaica’s economic recoveryprogramme. Celebrating there-opening, Minister of Energyand Mining, Hon. JamesRobertson, said it representedthe revival of the country’sbauxite industry and wouldhave an important impact onthe economy, noting that theeconomy had lost well overUS$1 billion since the closureof the plants.

Some 600 workers werere-employed at the re-openingof the plant, which began witha production of approximately321,000 tonnes of alumina, outof its total capacity of nearly625,000 tonnes.

The Jamaican Governmenthas a minority share in theWINDALCO plant whose maj-ority shares belong to UnitedCompany Rusal, the world’slargest aluminum producer.

In March, MinisterRobertson broke ground for theUS$49 million Wigton WindFarm expansion project locatedin Rose Hill, Manchester.

The project involves theinstallation of nine new two-megawatt wind turbines whichwill increase the total amountof energy produced by Wigtonto 38.7 megawatts. The gener-ated power will be sold to theJamaica Public Service (JPS)for domestic use. In addition,the plant’s operating facilitieswill be improved and aresource room for educationaland technical informationexchange established.

The expansion will pro-duce some 55 gigawatt hoursof energy, enough to powerabout 24,000 homes and willsee savings of approximately32,400 barrels of oil valued atUS$2.3 million. This cleanenergy technology will preventthe emission of 45,954 tonnesof carbon, thus enhancing theclean energy technology thrustof the Ministry of Energy andMining.

Wigton Wind Farm is asubsidiary of the Petroleum

Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ),an agency of the Ministry.

The project is 100 per centfinanced from the PetroCaribeDevelopment Fund.

National Energy Policy

Passage of the NationalEnergy Policy (NEP) was alsoa major achievement of theGovernment for the calendaryear.

The National EnergyPolicy provides a coherent,cohesive programme to trans-form the energy sector from itsover dependence on importedoil to one that is diversified,dynamic, environmentallyfriendly and efficient.

The policy supports thecountry’s National Develop-ment Plan, Vision 2030, andoutlines appropriate actions onsuch issues as climate change,

energy conservation and effi-ciency as well as renewableenergy. The policy will alsocreate the framework for estab-lishing linkages among varioussectors to achieve policycoherence.

The introduction of LNGis also being viewed as a gamechanger which is set to trans-form Jamaica’s energy andeconomic landscape.

In 2010, the country for-

mally offered 19 offshore andfour onshore blocks for licens-ing to undertake oil and gasexploration. Significant confi-dence was being expressed thatwith new seismic data showingvery positive prospects, thecountry could eventuallybecome one of the region’s oilproducers.

Minister of State in theMinistry of Energy and Mining,Hon. Laurence Broderick,

speaking at the second bidlaunch at the GeologicalSociety in London earlier inthe year, emphasised that lowenergy cost was key to thecountry’s industrial develop-ment and that the programmeto develop and expand renewableenergy sources would continueas a Government priority.

In April, State MinisterBroderick also made a call forgreater collaboration between oilproducing and consumingnations at the Organization ofAmerican States (OAS)Energy and Climate Change ofthe Americas PreparatoryMinisterial Meeting, held inWashington, D.C.

In 2010 also, the OAScommitted to providing techni-cal assistance for biofueldevelopment and policy sup-port in Jamaica, through an inter-governmental energy project,supported by the Governmentsof Brazil and the United States.

The overall goal of theproject is to develop andimplement Jamaica’s biofuelspolicy and establish a stronglegal and regulatory frame-work for a vibrant biofuelindustry.

Launching the programmein May at Jamaica House, theEnergy and Mining Ministersaid the project represented animportant plank in theGovernment’s overarchingvision for the country.

ENERGY AND MINING Inks First National Energy Policy– by Rodger Hutchinson

Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon. James Robertson (left), in discussion withGeneral Manager of the Wigton Wind Farm in Manchester, Earl Barrett, aboard theBBC Mississippi, which docked at Port Esquivel in St. Catherine, on April 4, withwind turbines for the multi-million dollar expansion of the farm.

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding (2nd right) inspects some of the energysaving bulbs at a workshop on energy saving opportunities within the publicsector, at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston recently. Touring the exhibitswith him are: Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. James Robertson (3rd right);and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mining, HillaryAlexander (3rd left).

The NationalEnergy Policy

provides a coherent, cohesive

programme to transform the

energy sector fromits over

dependence onimported oil to onethat is diversified,

dynamic,environmentally

friendly and efficient.


Consumers who use theCoronation (‘Curry’)Market would have

experienced a much improvedenvironment this Christmas, asthe Kingston and St. AndrewCorporation (KSAC) workeddiligently to increase vendingfacilities as well as improvethe shopping atmosphere indowntown Kingston.

Phase One of the restora-tion project, which includedthe installation of a roof, flooringand a water system has benefit-ted from $100 million in fund-ing from Digicel Jamaica.Phase Two of the project hasalready begun.

Other aspects of the proj-ect include repairs to the roof ofthe Redemption GroundMarket, and sections of theQueen’s Market. Extensiverepairs are also slated to com-mence on the Fish Market.

The market restorationproject was one of a number ofprojects undertaken by thelocal authorities and theDepartment of Local Govern-ment during 2010, under theleadership of Minister of Statein the Office of the PrimeMinister, Hon. Robert Montague.

In November it wasannounced that nine marketswere selected to be renovatedunder Phase One of an $18 mil-lion islandwide market beauti-fication programme, spearheadedby the Department.

Customer Service Charter

Also in November, the St.Thomas Parish Council createdhistory when it became the first

local authority to launch aCustomer Service Charter, toguide the code of conduct andoverall service offered by theCouncil. The other councilswhich have followed in devel-oping Customer Service Chartersare: Kingston and St. AndrewCorporation (KSAC); St.Catherine, Clarendon, andManchester.

Jamaica Fire Brigade

In October, the capacity ofthe Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB)to respond to emergencies wasboosted with the provision ofstate-of-the-art rescue equipmentand protective gear valued atapproximately $20.8 million.

Mr. Montague also presentedthe JFB with $5 million to reno-vate the fire stations in SantaCruz, St. Elizabeth and May Pen,Clarendon.

During the year, the parishof St. Mary benefitted from anew fire truck. The unit has a100-foot extended ladderwhich is suitable for high risebuildings and certain rescueoperations. It will be based atthe new Boscobel InternationalAirport.

National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA)

The National Solid WasteManagement Authority(NSWMA) received a boost toits work with the addition of 22new units to its fleet.

The Authority completedrepairs to the Aljon Compactor.The equipment, which wasbrought back into operation at a

cost of approximately $7 million,is expected to save the Authorityapproximately $40 millionannually in equipment rental.

InfirmariesReports from the Board of

Supervision early in 2010 showedthat infirmaries were graduallybecoming self-sufficient inmeeting their nutritional needs.Thanks to the Food and Agri-culture Organization (FAO), athriving poultry, hatchery andvegetable garden project is nowbeing administered across theisland. The infirmaries now supplytheir local markets with eggs andchicken meat under supervisionof the local Board of Health.

In October, ground wasbroken for the construction of anew Infirmary in Hanover toreplace the current facilities. Itis expected to cost some $27million and provide accommo-dation for about 40 persons.

Work also commenced on thebuilding of the new male wardin St. Thomas, to replace the onedestroyed by Hurricane Dean.

Access to Benefits by the Poor

Of note in 2010, was thepartnership developed betweenthe Department of LocalGovernment and the RegistrarGeneral’s Department (RGD),which delivered some 2,600birth certificates to poor personsislandwide, to enable them toaccess benefits under theNational Health Fund (NHF),

and the Jamaica Drug for theElderly Programme (JADEP).The poor also benefited fromreduced fees for land titles.

Construction ofMunicipal Buildings

Approximately $72 mil-lion was budgeted by theDepartment of Local Govern-ment to construct Municipalbuildings in St Thomas, West-moreland and St. Elizabeth, aswell as the Portmore MunicipalCouncil, while $40 million was

allocated to each of the 14municipal councils to repair theinfrastructural damage caused byTropical Storm Nicole inSeptember.

Municipal Police Corps

In March, the MunicipalPolice Corps of the Departmentof Local Government wasstrengthened with the additionof 28 new officers, increasing theestablishment to 180 members.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTSeveral Projects Undertaken in 2010– by Chris Patterson

There were substantialincreases in the levels ofNational Insurance Scheme(NIS) benefits last year, asGovernment continued toprovide for the country’s pen-sioners.

Minister of Labour andSocial Security, Hon. PearnelCharles, said the increases,which became effective July 1,would move the annual costof the programme from $9billion to $10.4 billion. Hestated that the increaseswould provide further bene-fits to 115,000 persons, andwould “go a far way inimproving the standard ofliving of NIS beneficiaries,who have contributed to thedevelopment of this countryin their various fields ofendeavour.”

Cabinet, approved the uni-fication of the NIS retirementage to allow both females andmales to receive the benefit atage 65. Currently, femalesqualify to receive their NISretirement benefit at age 60and age 65 for males.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities

The Minister pointed outthat persons with Disabilities(PWDs) represent an integralpart of the labour force, manyof whom have been exposed,and have developed a widerange of competencies. Heinformed that over $100 mil-lion was dedicated toempowering them.

NIS Benefits Increased

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility forLocal Government, Hon. Robert Montague (centre); Minister of Water andHousing, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang (right); and Head of the European UnionDelegation in Jamaica, Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni, in discussion.

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding (left) listens atten-tively, as Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor DesmondMcKenzie, shows him the refurbishing work which hasbeen carried out at the Coronation Market, during thehanding over of the facilities on November 11.

The Ministry of Foreign ofAffairs and Foreign Trade in2010, continued its efforts to

strengthen Jamaica’s relationship withits regional and global partners, whileembarking on new initiatives toenhance the country’s diplomaticcapacity in a changing world.

Strengthening CARICOM Heads

Regionally, Jamaica continued toforge closer ties and lasting relation-ships with its Caribbean Community(CARICOM) neighbours. In July, thecountry, under the astute chairmanshipof Prime Minister the Hon. BruceGolding, hosted the 31st Conference ofHeads of Government of CARICOM inMontego Bay, St. James. For the firsttime in its 37-year history, theCommunity welcomed as special guests,the Secretary General of the UnitedNations and the Managing Director ofthe International Monetary Fund.

Deputy Prime Minister andMinister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign

Trade, Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh, saidthe conference addressed a number ofcritical matters, including the issue ofgovernance. He said CARICOM Headsagreed to set up a special committee toreview proposals coming out of themeeting. The review was presented tothe CARICOM Bureau and thereafter toa special meeting of Heads ofGovernment in late September, with aview to their adoption at the Inter-Sessional meeting of Heads slated forFebruary 2011.

It was also decided that anIndependent Review Team should becommissioned to undertake a compre-hensive appraisal of regional institu-tional/associate institutions and theSecretariat, with a view to effectivelyrationalise their functions, funding andstructures.

State and Working VisitsDuring the year, the Ministry also

sought to strengthen Jamaica’s relationswith its regional partners by extendinginvitations to the heads of state of tworegionally important nations – Trinidadand Tobago and Colombia.

Immediately following theConference of the Heads, in response toan invitation from Prime MinisterGolding, Prime Minister of theRepublic of Trinidad and Tobago,Kamla Persad-Bissessar, remained inJamaica for a two-day working visit.

During the visit, bilateral talkswere conducted in an atmosphere offriendship and co-operation coveringareas such as agriculture, energy,health, crime and security, free move-ment of persons and trade and invest-

ment, including the agreement for thesale of Air Jamaica to CaribbeanAirlines, in which regard Mrs.Persad-Bissessar advised that her Governmentwould honour the agreement and retainthe Air Jamaica brand name.

Both Prime Ministers underscoredthe importance of bilateral trade underthe CARICOM Single Market andagreed on the need for trade relationsbetween Jamaica and Trinidad andTobago to develop on a mutually bene-ficial basis. In this regard, it was agreedto promote reciprocal visits of businessdelegations to explore opportunitiesand enhance economic linkages.

On November 19, President of theRepublic of Colombia, His ExcellencyJuan Manuel Santos Calderon, arrivedin Jamaica for a one-day state visit.During his visit, the President said hehoped to improve the relationshipbetween his country and Jamaica, par-ticularly in relation to the joint explo-ration for oil and gas and the fightagainst narcotics and terrorism.

He travelled to National HeroesCircle for a wreath-laying ceremony atthe statue of South American liberator,Simon Bolivar, and held bilateral talkswith the Prime Minister at JamaicaHouse. The President also addressedthe University of the West Indies (UWI)community.

G8 MeetingAt the invitation of Canadian Prime

Minister, Steven Harper, on June 25,Prime Minister Golding participated inthe Summit of the Group of 8 highlyindustrialised countries in Muskoka,Canada on June 25. The meetingfocused on security, specifically transna-


REGIONAL & INT’LJamaica to the World … Ties– by Athaliah Reynolds

Chairman of the CaribbeanCommunity (CARICOM) andPrime Minister of Jamaica, theHon. Bruce Golding (left), andPresident of Haiti, His ExcellencyRene Preval.

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar (left),is greeted by Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Hon. KarlSamuda (right), while Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding (2nd left),and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Dr. KenBaugh, look on.

Cont’d on page 23

IDB– The Voice of Jamaica - 21

Minister of Financeand the PublicService, Hon. Audley

Shaw, and President of theInter-American DevelopmentBank (IDB), Mr. Luis AlbertoMoreno, signed a loan forUS$200 million (J$17.2 bil-lion) recently, at the IDBHeadquarters in Washington.

The loan, under the Govern-ment’s Fiscal ConsolidationProgramme, is to support theGOJ’s efforts to achieve fiscalpolicy goals over the short andmedium term, and was secured atan interest rate of 1.51 percent.

The loan represented a totalof US$430 million (J$37.0 bil-lion) in funding from the IDBsince Jamaica entered into anagreement with the Inter-national Monetary Fund (IMF)in February this year.

In commenting on the IDBLoan Programme over the two-year period of the IMF Agre-ement, Minister Shaw said,"The IDB is committed to adisbursement of over US$600million (J$51.7 billion) in policy-

based loans to Jamaica in thisCalendar year at interest ratesof less than 1.5 per cent perannum.

“This represents thelargest loan to a country as apercentage of its GDP in theIDB's history. This representsan extraordinary level of confi-dence being shown by the IDBin the policies of the Governmentof Jamaica," said Mr. Shaw.

Outside of the IMF, whichprovides balance of paymentsupport, the IDB is Jamaica’slargest source of budgetarysupport, with funding accessedthrough policy-based loans andchannelled directly into theFiscal Consolidation Programme.

Specific areas of interestinclude the strengthening of fis-cal discipline and accountability,reduction of the public debt/GDP ratio, and stimulation ofeconomic growth and develop-ment in the Jamaican economy.

Minister Shaw also under-scored the Government’sstrong commitment to sus-tained fiscal reform and good

governance, and congratulatedPresident Luis Alberto Morenoon his re-election to a secondterm as head of the IDB.

Also at the signing wereAmbassador Audrey Marks,Ambassador of Jamaica to theUnited States; Gerard Johnson,

IDB Representative to Jamaica;and Ambassador RichardBernal, Executive Director ofthe IDB for the Caribbean.

Shaw Inks US$200 Million Low Interest Loan with

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, shakes hands withIDB President, Luis Alberto Moreno, after signing a US$200 million fiscal consolidationloan agreement on behalf of the Government of Jamaica. Looking on (seated) areJamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, and IDBExecutive Director for the Caribbean, Ambassador Richard Bernal.

– by Derrick Scott


Since January 2010,several pieces of legis-lation have been

passed in both Houses ofParliament, focussing onstrengthening the financial sec-tor as well as improvingnational security.

Among these was theGovernment Securities Dema-terialisation Act, 2010, whichwas passed in the Senate inJanuary with 27 amendments.

The Bill makes it compul-sory for every investor to convertGovernment securities held indematerialised or electronicformat, and sets out a processfor the conversion of alreadyissued securities. The Bill alsoseeks to appoint the Bank ofJamaica as the Registrar for thepurposes of the Act, whilemaking provision for futuredesignation of a licensed cen-tral securities agency or body,designated as the Registrar.The Registrar is required tomaintain a register containingsuch particulars as may be pre-scribed.

Meanwhile, the CreditReporting Bill was passed with42 amendments. It provides forthe licensing and supervisionof a Credit Bureau, and otherrelated matters.

Piloting the Bill, Ministerof Finance and the PublicService, Hon. Audley Shaw,said that given the problem ofpoor credit decisions and highlevels of non-performing loans,which plagued the financialsector during the crisis of the1990s, a system that providesbetter credit information wouldbe beneficial to financial insti-tutions in their decision-makingprocess.

In February, the House ofRepresentatives passed amend-ments to the Financial Admin-istration and Audit Act and thePublic Bodies Management

and Accountability Act, as partof the Government’s fiscalresponsibility framework. The

Act seeks to prohibit publicbodies from taking steps toenter into negotiations to bor-row money, through the issuanceof bonds, without prior approvalof the Minister of Finance.

The Bill also requires thatbefore the end of the financialyear, the Minister lay beforethe House and the Senate forapproval, the estimates of rev-enues and expenditure inrespect of all public bodies. Inaddition, the Minister ofFinance is now required totable in Parliament a FiscalPolicy Paper containing,among other things, a macro-economic framework providingan overview of the state of theeconomy

In March, the Senatepassed the Casino Gaming Actand the amended Betting,Gaming and Lotteries Act.

The Casino Gaming Actprovides for the establishmentof a Casino Gaming Commission,which regulates the conduct ofcasino gaming, and has powersto grant licences to operators

within an approved integratedresort development.

In piloting the Bill,Minister of Justice andAttorney General, Senator theHon. Dorothy Lightbourne,explained the need for an entityseparate from the Betting Gamingand Lotteries Commission, tooversee casino gaming.

Parliament earlier in theyear, also passed the Registration(Strata Titles) (Amendment)Regulations, which provides theadministrative tools for StrataCorporations to administer theirduties effectively. There aresome 2,345 registered strataproperties in Jamaica.

The Terrorism PreventionAct was passed in the House ofRepresentatives in March, allow-ing the Minister of ForeignAffairs and Foreign Trade tointroduce penalties above thoseincluded in the Interpretation Actof the Terrorism Prevention Act,subject to approval by Parliament.

Passage of the amendmentwas critical to the Governmentfulfilling its obligations underthe Financial Action TaskForce (FATF), an inter-govern-mental body for the promotionof national and international

policies to combat money laun-dering and terrorist financing.

The Senate in March alsopassed the Regulations to theTerrorism Prevention Act, set-ting out the procedures to befollowed by businesses toensure they do not unintention-ally support the financing ofterrorism.

Meanwhile, a Bill amendingthe Tourist (Duty Free)Shopping System Act, whichallows persons arriving at theinternational airports to makeduty free purchases on theirarrival into the country, waspassed in the Senate and theLower House in July.

The Attorney General,who piloted the Bill, explainedthat the amendment was inkeeping with Government’spolicy of encouraging increasedtourist arrivals and spending.

The Senate also passed a

Bill protecting the ChildDevelopment Agency (CDA)and its employees from anypossible action resulting from athe gazetting of the ChildCare and Protection (Children’sHomes) Regulations beforebeing approved by Parliament.

The Bill effectively vali-dated and confirmed acts done“in good faith” by the CDA“and any person having officialduties under the Child Careand Protection Act, in enforc-ing the provisions of theRegulations between 2005 and2007” when these regulationswere still unapproved. It waspassed in the Senate on July 16.

Meanwhile, the House ofRepresentatives passed legisla-tion to effect reforms to protectthe country’s clearing and set-tlement systems from disruptionsthat could lead to instability inthe financial sector.

Financial Sector LEGISLATION Strengthened in 2010– by Latonya Linton

Minister of Finance andthe Public Service, Hon.Audley Shaw

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding

Leader of GovernmentBusiness and Minister ofEducation, Hon. AndrewHolness

The year 2010 will beremembered as one ofthe most demanding

periods in the history of theJamaica Defence Force (JDF).

Earthquake in HaitiThe force’s ability to

respond nationally and inter-nationally was tested as earlyas the beginning of the year,when the soldiers respondedimmediately to the devastatingeffects of a 7.0 magnitudeearthquake in Haiti where therewas significant loss of life.

Nearly 160 soldiers,including doctors, medics,engineers and infantry personnel,were deployed by the Governmentto the earthquake-ravaged islanddays after the disaster occurred.

They assisted in searchand rescue missions, deliveringrelief supplies, provided med-ical aid and performed escortduties to ensure that food sup-plies reached the most desperatepeople in the more remote areasin the capital of Port-au-Prince.

JDF engineers conducted anumber of building assessments

and passed them safe for peopleto move back in. The medicalteams were particularly busy,working around the clock toperform surgeries, treat openfractures, amputations, dealwith maternity cases and othercrucial procedures.

West Kingston Operation

In May, the JDF proved itsability to defend and protectthe country against securitythreats, when it partnered withthe Jamaica ConstabularyForce (JCF) in a major securityoperation in West Kingston,which led to the dismantling ofa major criminal network.

The operation was sup-ported by a State ofEmergency, which lasted for60 days and called for thedeployment of the majority ofthe JDF’s manpower.

During the state of emer-gency, some 50 some patrols,snap raids, vehicle checkpoints and curfews were car-ried out in Kingston and St.Catherine North and South,resulting in numerous personsof interest being detained.


tional organised crime.The Prime Minister used

the opportunity to highlightthe socioeconomic context inwhich Jamaica and otherCARICOM countries wereconfronting the securitythreats engendered by organ-ised crime. He renewed theappeal to G8 leaders for assis-tance to tackle this problem,and emphasised that rooting

out crime was not just a lawenforcement exercise but mustbe seen as a major develop-ment issue.

Diplomatic RelationsJamaica, last year, estab-

lished an Embassy in KuwaitCity, the capital and largestcity of the Arab emirate ofKuwait. His Excellency AudleyRodrigues was appointed

Jamaica’s first Ambassador toKuwait. A number of newHigh Commissioners andAmbassadors were alsoappointed in 2010, includingHer Excellency Sheila SealyMonteith, Jamaican HighCommissioner to Canada;Jamaican Ambassador to theUnited States of America inthe person of AmbassadorAudrey Marks; Ambassador

Anthony Johnson as HighCommissioner to the UnitedKingdom (UK); former CabinetMinister and trade unionist,Clifton Stone, as Ambassadorto Venezuela; and AmbassadorWayne McCook as Jamaica’snew Permanent Representativeto the United Nations and itsSpecialised Agencies inGeneva in early December.

REGIONAL & INT’L – cont’d from pg. 20

JDF Responds to Local and Int’l Crises – by Lesline Gilzene

JDF soldiers undergoing training in rescue operation.

Jamaica to the World …


With Information andCommunica t ionsTechnologies (ICT)

taking on an increasinglygreater role in national devel-opment, the Government con-tinued its policy and practice ofexpanding the use and applica-tion of ICTs in all areas ofnational endeavour.

According to Ministerwith responsibility for Inform-ation, Telecommunications andSpecial Projects in the Officeof the Prime Minister, Hon.Daryl Vaz, this was in keepingwith the Vision 2030 NationalDevelopment Plan, which des-ignates ICTs as a priority areafor development as a majorindustry and an enabler for allother sectors.

“This is a critical strategyfor becoming efficient, effec-tive and more productive in theprivate and public sectors aswell as for increasing our inter-national competitiveness,” Minis-ter Vaz stated at the openingceremony of the two-dayCaribbean ICT Conferenceorganised by the CaribbeanTelecommunications Union(CTU).

ICT Road Shows Part of the CTU’s 20th

Anniversary celebrations, theconference was the culmina-tion of a series of ICT roadshows held at major townsacross the island including Man-deville, Manchester, MontegoBay, St. James and Port Maria.The road shows included exhi-bitions, demonstrations, paneldiscussions and testimonialsinvolving persons, who haveused ICT successfully, to startand/or advance various busi-nesses.

Jamaica’s leg of the roadshow was undertaken by theCentral Information TechnologyOffice (CITO).

GovNetMeanwhile, the Government

moved a step closer to creatingits own communication net-work, GovNet, following theprovision of a $20.5 milliongrant from the Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank (IDB).

A 10-month technical andeconomic review project forthe creation of GovNet is beingimplemented by the IDB inpartnership with the CabinetOffice, through the PublicSector Transformation Unit.The Government of Jamaicawill provide over $5 milliontowards the initiative.

When established, GovNetwill facilitate the seamlesstransfer of information betweenGovernment agencies andother stakeholders. It will alsofacilitate the provision ofonline services to the public, ata minimal cost.

C@ribNETAnother important ICT-

related development for Jamaicawas C@ribNET: CaribbeanAdvanced High Speed Network,a project being undertaken bythe Caribbean Knowledge andLearning Network (CKLN) tostrengthen the capacity of theregional tertiary educationcommunity, and develop theresearch and education networkamong CARICOM countries.

Jamaica is among ninecountries that will benefit fromthis project, which is partiallyfunded by a grant ofUS$600,000 from the IDB, andis to become operational withinthe next six months. It is sched-uled to begin in July 2011.

At the launch inSeptember, Minister Vaz, said“When we have connectedseveral national research facilitiesand institutions to the network,it will provide an easily acces-sible platform from whichJamaica’s many gifts of knowl-edge can be shared with theworld,” he said.

Media and Broadcasting

In the area of media andbroadcasting one of the main

highlights for the Governmentwas the Broadcasting Com-mission's (Commission) RegionalForum on Policy and Regu-lation in the Electronic MediaSector.

Over the two days of theforum, which was held fromJuly 5-6 at the Jamaica PegasusHotel in Kingston, a variety ofviews were exchanged inroundtable discussions amongsome 68 regulators, academics,researchers, business interests,broadcasters and Governmentrepresentatives. Approximatelyeight countries includingCARICOM territories as wellas Canada, the United Statesand Chile were represented.

Media Policy Report Later in the year, the

Commission updated themedia and the public on rec-ommendations from a MediaPolicy Report compiled by theCanadian research company,Nordicity Consulting Group.

Dr. Dunn informed that theCommission engaged theCanadian research company toconduct research and makerecommendations for updatingand modernising Jamaica’selectronic media policy and tobring the media laws into con-formity with modern globalstandards and reformed policies.

The recommendations were

wide ranging and coveredamong other things: a reviseddefinition of broadcasting;Jamaica’s timetable for digitalswitchover; measures for com-bating the practice of payolaincluding making it a criminaloffence; equitable market-based licence fees for all players;promotion of media accessservices for the disabled;recognition and support of pri-ority local programming content.

The report was informedthrough active consultationswith the owners and managersof the Jamaican media indus-try, including broadcast andcable licensees.

With respect to youthengagement, the BroadcastingCommission, for the first time,included students on itsMonitoring Content andCompliance Committee (MCCC).

The committee has theresponsibility for receiving,documenting and evaluatingcomplaints with a view to rul-ing on whether or not broad-casters are in compliance withthe regulations.

Meanwhile, as Jamaicamoves towards another year,Minister Vaz is stressing theGovernment’s commitment toensuring that all Jamaicansbenefit from the use of ICTs.“Technology is the present andfuture and I’m working to ensurethat we will all embrace it,” heaffirmed.

Ministry INFORMATION – by Don Dobson

Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecom-munications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz at apost-Cabinet press briefing recently.

Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz (left), is indiscussion with Secretary General, Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), Bernadette Lewis (2nd left);Geneal Manager, IBM Jamaica, Stephen Megoo (2nd right); and head of PSTG Consulting, Devindra Ramnarine, atthe opening ceremony of the Caribbean Information and Communication Technology (ICT) conference at theJamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on July 18.

Technology Continued to Drive

Documents

JIS Year in Review, 2010