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JAMAICA: Prime Minister Calls for More Private Investments

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#Kingston, October 12, 2018 – Jamaica – Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is calling for increased private investments, as the Government continues to maintain proper fiscal management that will facilitate growth in the economy.  Speaking at the Jamaica Flour Mills plant re-dedication ceremony at the facility, 209 Windward Road, in Kingston, on October 10, Mr. Holness said steps have been taken to ensure macroeconomic stability and fiscal sustainability.

“We are changing the environment… the change is happening in Jamaica,” the Prime Minister noted, adding that these changes have resulted in ongoing debt reduction, low interest rates and low inflation.  We have reduced our debt-to-GDP ratio from 141 per cent, and by the end of this year, we will be below 100 per cent. All Jamaicans should take great pride in saying our interest rates are now at record low,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that employment is growing at such a rate “we have never seen before in the history of Jamaica.”  Mr. Holness said he is “pleased” with the findings of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce Business and Consumer Confidence Survey for the third quarter, as it shows  that consumer confidence is “very high.”

“It means that consumers are likely to not just spend more but invest more, and it means that businesses will continue to invest. There is a very high level of optimism in Jamaica,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted too that the Jamaica Stock Market continues to grow at an “amazing pace,” and that Bloomberg cites it as being one of the fastest growing stock markets in the world.

Mr. Holness said the Government is building on the level of confidence that is being shown, “making investments in the infrastructure (new roads)…not just the hard infrastructure, but we are putting in place the regulatory environment.”  He noted that improved service delivery and reduction in the bureaucratic culture in the public sector will positively impact the business and investment climate in Jamaica.

“The public sector is there as a service to the citizens of the country and to the businesses and entrepreneurs of the country, to make it easier for them to do business and to grow their business, so that we can get more taxes and pay the public sector better.  It’s not my intention to scare anymore, but rather to encourage more investments,” he said.

In the meantime, Mr. Holness said national security remains a priority for the Government, and that strategies will continue to be implemented to tackle the issue.

“Murders are down 20 per cent and we will continue to work very hard to ensure that we keep that particular index of security heading downwards,” he added.

The Prime Minister lauded the Jamaica Flour Mills and congratulated them on achieving their 50-year mark.

For his part, Managing Director of the Jamaica Flour Mills, Derrick Nembhard, thanked the partners, customers, distributors, suppliers and employees who have contributed to the company’s longevity.  He said the company is aware that consumers are looking for new options in carbohydrate solutions, and have been using indigenous crops to process and market value added products for the local and export markets.

“We are also far advanced in making available to consumers gluten-free flour, which we are now testing to ensure that we have a functional product which can be marketed to bakers for specialty products.  We have also completed the reformulation of our mixes to reduce the sugar content, so that we can be in alignment with the Ministry of Health’s thrust to reduce the sugar intake of Jamaicans,” he said.

He noted too that most of the packaging materials are biodegradable, thereby minimizing the impact on the environment.

 

Release: JIS

Contact: Chris Patterson

Photo Caption:

Header: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (centre), listens to  Managing Director, Jamaica Flour Mills, Derrick Nembhard (left), during a tour of the Jamaica Flour Mills, located at 209 Windward Road, in Kingston, on October 10. At right is Plant Manager, Jamaica Flour Mills, Andre Neil. The tour followed the official rededication ceremony, which marked the plant’s 50th anniversary.

Insert: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), listens to Plant Manager, Jamaica Flour Mills, Andre Neil, during a tour of the Jamaica Flour Mills, located at 209 Windward Road, in Kingston, on October 10. The tour followed the official rededication ceremony which marked the plant’s 50th anniversary.

 

Photos by: Yhomo Hutcinson

 

 

 

 

 

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Bahamas News

RBDF Operation Strengthens Maritime Security Amidst Regional Turmoil

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Defence Headquarters, 17 MAR. ’24: A joint operation between the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) and the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) led to the apprehension of 50 Haitian migrants approximately 5 nautical miles west of Bell Island on Saturday, March 16th.

The operation was initiated following the initial sighting of a sailing vessel, believed to be of Haitian origin, 8 miles southwest of Staniel Cay in the Exumas. RBDF swiftly deployed air and surface assets stationed at Matthew Town Inagua, supported by Police officials in Staniel Cay who verified the sighting. The migrants were intercepted by RBDF personnel stationed at the Land and Sea Park, Wardrick Wells Exuma, and subsequently handed over to the safe boat crew. They are currently under apprehension pending further investigation, with the imminent arrival of HMBS Rolly Gray.

In response to the ongoing instability in Haiti, Commodore Raymond King has announced the implementation of a strategic blockade in the southern Bahamas. This initiative includes the deployment of six surface vessels, one aircraft, and 120 highly skilled RBDF personnel. Patrol operations will be concentrated in critical areas such as the northern coast of Haiti, the Old Bahama Channel, and the Windward Passage, with the aim of deterring unauthorized entry attempts and preserving maritime security in the region.

The effectiveness of these decisive measures is evident, with recent apprehensions totaling 247 individuals by the RBDF. Commodore Raymond E. King emphasizes the commitment to bolstering maritime security through collaborative efforts with regional partners and local law enforcement agencies.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains committed to safeguarding the nation’s borders and territorial integrity, working collaboratively with regional partners.

(For further information please contact the RBDF Public Relations Department or visit our website: www.rbdf.gov.bs, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and view our Youtube channel)

-rbdf-

#GuardOurHeritage

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Caribbean News

Wildfire Guyana, STAY ALERT

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer 

A wildfire in Guyana claimed the life of a 93 year old man on Tuesday March 12th and Guyanese people are now being urged to take precautions against these unpredictable phenomena.

The Guyana Fire Service reported that the fire seemingly started on an open farmland near the Parakies Village Community (the main road) located in the North West District, where the victim, Alexander Josephine, resided. 

Josephine was caught in the fire while working on his farm. Reports say he left home early at around 9 am to tend to his farm and later at about 1 pm, his family unfortunately received news he was injured during the fire and sadly died from his injuries.

Emergency officials arrived at the scene to find him lifeless and covered in burns. He was pronounced deceased after being transported to the Kumaka District Hospital.

A post-mortem examination will be performed on the deceased and an investigation into the causes of the fire is being conducted. 

The fire service, in providing tips to Guyanese on how to defend against forest fires, advised that they dig trenches around their homes to direct the fires elsewhere, specifically chosen areas where it can be burned out. And, people are told to not burn garbage or grass outdoors as this is a recipe for wildfires. 

They also recommend that people stay alert and  have evacuation plans in place in case they fall victim to these fires at home.

Additionally, the fire service informs that wildfires are common during the dry season and that they have been fighting wildfires and large grass fires over the past two months.

Wildfires have become a major issue globally.last year, 2023, Maui Hawaii suffered what was dubbed, one of the worst wildfires in the US since 1871. Many people lost their lives; loved ones, family and friends, and many were displaced as their homes were destroyed. 

The World Resources Institute in an August 2023 article says recent data reveals that wildfires are becoming more widespread, worsened by climate change, “burning nearly twice as much tree cover today as they did 20 years ago.”

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Caribbean News

GOV’T LOOKING TO EXPAND JAMAICAEYE

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KINGSTON, March 7 (JIS):

The National Security Ministry is looking to expand the national closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance programme ‘JamaicaEye’.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, made the disclosure at the Standing Finance Committee meeting at Gordon House on Thursday (March 7).

JamaicaEye falls under Plan Secure Jamaica, which is geared towards creating a safe, secure, cohesive and just society, thereby providing an environment for increased and sustained growth and prosperity.

“JamaicaEye… we are expanding, but it has some challenges with the private sector. The security issue is that most of our connection, especially in the residential areas, are what we call the variable internet protocol (IP), and it is difficult to connect variable IP to the central system,” he pointed out.

Dr. Chang said that while it a cheaper system to use “and companies have used that in all the residential communities, it is posing as a challenge”.

“We are having discussion to see how we can overcome that, and the technical teams involved are looking at how we can… get that part of the programme going. In the meantime, we are expanding across the country, and we also ensure that the legal side of it is clear to the residents,” he indicated.

Jamaicans interested in connecting to JamaicaEye can register online at https://jamaicaeye.gov.jm/.

To participate, persons should have camera systems that are outside the home or business and face a public space; that can be connected to the Internet; have an IP-based system, preferably, although persons with older cameras will not be excluded; and have a resolution of two megapixels or higher.

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