OCHO RIOS, St. Ann:
THE TWO-DAY Cabinet retreat ended last night with an overview of the country's ailing sugar industry and important decisions relating to the implementation of the long overdue Tourism Action Plan.
A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister last night said Cabinet also received a progress report on plans for the Kingston Business Improvement District.
Cabinet also approved the process for the awarding of contracts for the construction of 5,000 new houses as part of the urban housing programme, expected to begin next month, said Huntley Medley, the Prime Minister's Press Secretary.
Day two of the retreat included discussions involving senior officials of several Government ministries and agencies as well as a meeting of the 17-member Cabinet.
Discussions on key job creating development programmes, especially pertaining to agriculture and tourism expansion, will continue during the regular Cabinet meet next Monday.
The Cabinet yesterday approved a framework for a "co-ordinated and multifaceted approach" to the development of tourism in Jamaica over the next 10 years as outlined in the Tourism Master Plan.
Tourism Minister Aloun Assamba pointed to recent growth in cruise ship passenger arrivals but noted that other countries were growing at a faster rate. She said several ministries and agencies are involved in the implementation of the Plan, consistent with the identification of tourism as a key area for economic growth and job creation.
There was also a review of a progress report on the Values and Attitudes programme yesterday.
Mr. Medley said a special post-Cabinet press briefing will be held on Monday where, in addition to Information Minister Burchell Whiteman, other key ministers are expected to make presentations in relation to development involving their ministries.
