SDAs repair several police stations

As part of its 125th anniversary celebrations, representatives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica yesterday undertook repairs at a number of police stations islandwide.

The engagement, carried out under a major improvement project, included: the building of access ramps for the physically challenged; painting and electrical repairs.

President, Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Pastor Everett Brown, indicated that the improvement works form part of that body's undertaking to give back to communities, particularly during the period of the celebrations.

Canadian company gets third ganja licence

Canadian nutraceutical and pharmaceutical company, Timeless Herbal Care Limited (THC), which has operations in Jamaica, is the first private entity to be granted a ganja research licence by the Government.

The licence is the third to be issued, following similar awards to the University of the West Indies (UWI) and University of Technology (UTech). The licence permits THC to cultivate ganja (marijuana) locally for research and development, in keeping with provisions outlined in the amended Dangerous Drugs Act.

This undertaking is expected to position the country to tap into the global industry, which generates an estimated US$1 billion in earnings.

Thwaites commends Ja-Japan exchange programme

Education Minister, Reverend Ronald Thwaites, has lauded the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme for exposing and enabling Jamaicans to adopt expertise in new areas, while heightening their cultural awareness of the Asian country.

Of great significance, he said, has been the participants' ability to emulate the disciplined work ethic synonymous with the Japanese. Thwaites informed that the programme is among several established initiatives on which Jamaica and Japan have collaborated.

"We place great value on the technical assistance provided through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the bilateral agreements (initiated for), the education sector," he said.