Jamaica, London police to establish Youth Exchange programme
THE JAMAICA Constabulary Force (JCF) and the London Police Department have embarked on a initiative to 'twin' both cities and establish an exchange programme for youth club members of both countries.

Security forces short on intelligence
BOTH THE Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) have been described as lacking the intelligence capability to break the back of serious crime.

Performance falls short of promises
BY FAR the most glaring deficiency to have surfaced during these first 100 days of the People's National Party (PNP) administration is the issue of an economy in disarray...

Urban renewal talk of the town
THE NEW People's National Party (PNP) Government started off in a similar manner to earlier administrations with talk of urban renewal and promises to rescue the blighted metropolitan areas of Jamaica.

Mixed views on appeal for unity
SINCE HIS election victory last October, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has emphasised that one of the key objectives of his administration will be an attempt to weave together a sense of national unity from the diverse interest and groups...

THE DECISION LANDMARKS
The following are some of the major decisions and announcements by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and his governing People's National Party (PNP) since winning the October 2002 General Election.

'Dismal'
THE OPPOSITION Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has dismissed the Government's latest crime-fighting measures as "more of the same".

'Optimism for crime plan'
DESPITE SOME negative feedback, Dr. Peter Phillips, National Security Minister, remains optimistic that the latest anti-crime plan announced by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson on December 1 last year will be a success.

Workers Union proposes to keep Bellevue open
THE JAMAICA Workers Union (JWU) is expected to present a five-point proposal today, to Minister of Health, John Junor, outlining alternative measures aimed at keeping the Bellevue Hospital open.

REVENUES DIP, TOURISM SLIPS - Economy struggles
SIX WEEKS into the Patterson administration's fourth term in office, the Jamaican economy experienced its first shock on news of the oil strike in Venezuela, its largest crude supplier.