U.S. Agency for International Development and Le Levier Expand Rural Access to Credit for Agriculture, Economic Growth
On Monday September 28, USAID Acting Director for Haiti Alex Deprez and Jocelyn Saint-Jean, Director General of Le Levier Federation of Savings and Loan Cooperatives, signed an agreement under which USAID will provide $3.7 million in loan guarantees to Le Levier. Under the agreement, Le Levier will now be able to provide $7.5 million in […]
BOJ- Bankers or Jokers?
IN ANNOUNCING the latest one percentage point cut in its benchmark rates last week, Jamaica’s central bank said it could take the action because of the slowdown in inflation and the relative stability in the foreign-exchange market following the volatility late last year and in the early months of 2009. A glad dat BOJ feel […]
Civilized Anti-Crime Initiative Offers Hope for a Brighter Future
In these hard times the news from Jamaica is not always encouraging, but once in a while I hear or read about something that lifts up my spirits. Recently, for example, a friend sent me a video titled “Heal Jamaica,” and it moved me so much I used it in the next day’s “By George” […]
Montserrat & surrounding islands to benefit from the opening of Caribscan, a diagnostic imaging company
Residents of Montserrat now have one less medical reason to leave Montserrat. In fact, according to the Government Information Unit (GIU), Residents of Montserrat and surrounding islands will benefit from the opening of Caribscan, a diagnostic imaging company, which will reduce the number of people that must travel abroad to receive medical scans. Caribscan is […]
The 2008 Ms. Montserrat Festival Queen Selected
It is official; the 2008 Ms. Montserrat Festival Queen is Ms. Loralyn Fergus. According to Deonne Semple, facilitator of this year’s pageant, “Ms. Fergus was sponsored by Montserrat Limited and received trophies for the best swimsuit, the best talent, and the best creative wear.” Ms. Semple says, “Ms Sharlene Lindsay, sponsored by TK Construction, was […]
Book Review: Reggae Reggae Cookbook
About the Book:TV’s dragon slayer Levi Roots brings carnival to the kitchen with his hot’n’spicy debut cookbook. After winning over the business minds of The Dragon’s Den with little more than a song and a smile, entrepreneur Levi Roots has since sold more than one million bottles of his delicious Reggae Reggae Sauce. Building on […]
Belize Real Estate Firm Continues to Grow Despite World Wide Recession
elize Property Agents.com, one of the largest and fastest growing real estate companies in the small Central American nation of Belize is opening a second office in downtown Dangriga. The new office, located on Dangriga’s main street, is the second venue of business for the full service realty company which specializes in marketing and selling […]
Suriname calls for incentives at Climate Change Summit
PARAMARIBO, Suriname — The Suriname government on Monday pressed for financial compensation for forested countries with low carbon emissions by the global community. “My government is of the view that the global climate services of “High Forest Low Deforestation” (HFLD) countries such as Suriname have up till now not been acknowledged in an adequate manner,” Vice-President […]
CIA Factbook: Jamaica Transnational Issues
Disputes – international: none Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation and consumption of cannabis; government has an active manual cannabis eradication program; corruption is a major concern; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Jamaica for illicit financial transactions
CIA Factbook: Jamaica Military
Military branches: Jamaica Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing (2009) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; younger recruits may be conscripted with parental consent (2001) Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 688,480females age 16-49: 709,548 (2008 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 573,520females age 16-49: 586,426 (2009 est.) Manpower […]