JAMAICA OBSERVATIONS

Latin America and the Caribbean are the regions with the highest projected share of forestry carbon credits under the Kyoto Clean Development Mechanism, reports ClimateChangeCorp.com.

The climate change news site cited a report by the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center in Costa Rica which concluded that the region possessed over half, 56 per cent, of all estimated credits.

Credits are earned based on environmentally sensitive actions that reduce carbon emissions, which contribute to global climate change.

Weblink

ClimateChangeCorp.com: Forests: A carbon traders' gold mine?

(Photo: Reuters/Prensa Latina)

While United States President George Bush has continued to criticise Cuba for 'empty reform' he may welcome the latest gesture from the government of Raul Castro.

Investors from Canada and Europe are hopeful that the seemingly more pro-tourism Raul will approve proposals to develop Florida-style gated golfing communitues on the island, reports Reuters.

"Now that Fidel has handed over power to his brother, Raul, Communist Cuba is setting aside any ideological objections and is embracing golf, the most capitalist of sports."

Weblink

Reuters: Cuba embraces golf to boost tourism

Denniston Wilks, a city surveyor, farms in what was once a vacant lot in the shadows of an elevated subway track in East New York, Brooklyn. (Photo: Todd Heisler/The New York Times)

While people are still talking about agriculture minister Chris Tufton's call for Jamaicans to grow and eat cassava, Denniston Wilks is already doing it, or something similar, reports the New York Times.

"Growing up in rural Jamaica, the Wilkses helped their families raise crops like sugar cane, coffee and yams, and take them to market. Now, in Brooklyn, they are farmers once again, catering to their neighbors’ tastes: for scallions, for bitter melons like those from the West Indies and East Asia and for cilantro for Latin-American dinner tables."

Weblink

New York Times: Urban Farmers’ Crops Go From Vacant Lot to Market

Burchell Whiteman in his office at the Jamaica High Commission in London. (Photo: Ross Sheil)

It's a privilege to represent Jamaica in London, says High Commissioner Burchell Whiteman, but more money is needed to promote the positive side of the country to counter negative coverage in the British media.

Increasingly British perception of Jamaica is polarised around news reports of homophobia and crime, far from the ‘One Love’ idyll promoted by the tourism industry. Many in Britain are unable to divorce these perceptions from the reality that Jamaica remains a relatively safe destination for tourists.

Read More "Whiteman on representing Jamaica in the UK"

Stacy Adams, Marketing Manager of First Caribbean chats with Chad Cunningham, Director of Caribclix following a seminar the company held for advertisers at the Hilton Hotel in New Kingston.

Caribclix, billing itself as the region's first online advertising network launched today.

A press release from Caribclix said that the company is eyeing a share of what PriceWaterhouse report is a US$22 billion market...try telling that to net-phobic local advertisers. But says Caribclix, customers from a range of industries have already signed on.

“What Jamaican and Caribbean companies now have is a single entity that makes it easy for them to target customers online in an effective, affordable and measureable way," said Chad Cunningham, Director of Caribclix.

Weblink

Caribclix

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) and Wigton Wind Farm have separate plans to add a total of 120 megawatts to the national grid via natural gas, wind and hydro, reports the Business Observer.

Weblinks

JPS to expand its Bogue
US$4-M hydro plant in St Ann a lucrative possibility

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) -- Prime Minister Bruce Golding wants to permit licensing of casinos in Jamaica as a way to boost revenues, a move that is certain to ignite fierce opposition by religious groups who argue gambling encourages vice.

And, as reported in the Observer, Churchmen already have.

Read more...

Weblinks

CNN.com: Jamaica's PM pushes for casinos
Jamaica Observer: Churchmen rap planned introduction of casinos
Jamaica Observer: Casino revenues to fund health, education and security

Damian Lyn, President of the Jamaican Solar Energy Association (JSEA) holds up a solar panel outside the New Kingston premises of his company, Alternative Power Services (APS). (Photo: Ross Sheil)

The National Housing Trust’s (NHT) decision to launch low-interest loans for homeowners to buy solar panels is a boost for the local renewable energy industry says Damian Lyn, President of the Jamaica Solar Energy Association (JSEA).

The state-owned NHT have already serviced 493 borrowers under their two-year-old solar water heater loan and launched the solar water heater facility this month.

The solar panel loan is available...

Read More "NHT loan: Ray of sunshine for solar industry"

The public sector will take steps to reduce its energy consumption by 15 per cent this year in an effort to encourage greater energy conservation in Jamaica, just as annual the national oil import bill threatens to reach US$2.5 billion, announced Prime Minister Bruce Golding in his budget speech yesterday.

The Prime Minister also unveiled a raft of proposals including tax exemptions, tax credits and accelerated depreciation allowances for businesses and households which install energy-saving equipment.

He promised a complete review of taxation for energy consuming products (including tax breaks and incentives). Beginning with the appointment of an ‘Energy Czar’ within his office, energy co-ordinators are to be identified in each government...

Read More "Golding pledges 15% public sector energy cut"

Agricultural subsidies in the United States and cheaper rice have discouraged production in Haiti, contributing to its current food crisis reports the Miami Herald.

VERRETTES, Haiti -- The roots of this country's food crisis lies next to Mesidor Sagesse's humble field, where large-scale farming was long ago abandoned in favor of imported ''Miami'' rice.

Following a week of deadly demonstrations over rising food prices that cost the prime minister his job, Haitian President René Préval recently announced government subsidies to cut the price of imported rice by more than 15 percent and to revive local agriculture primarily by reducing the price of fertilizer.

Weblink

Miami Herald VIDEO, SLIDESHOW & AUDIO: Crop fields hold hope in Haiti