BITU on warpath - Abandons MoU with Gov't
THE BUSTAMANTE Industrial Trade Union (BITU) has pulled out of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government, and is asking member unions of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) to do the same.

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'180,000 ganja users in Ja'
Chilean is new OAS head
Lucius Thomas out to get corrupt cops
Not so fast! Police caution church on adopt-a-gang programme
Today is 'Read Across Ja Day'

Laid to REST - Memories of the railway
FOR MANY Jamaicans, residing alongside old train tracks, a local rail service remains a distant memory growing dimmer by the years."I used to take the train to Montego Bay and Town (Kingston) most evenings...

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Strong ratings for Jamaica
Libel laws pose biggest threat
J'can lawyer challenging OECS judicial commission
Spectacular blooms

'Roll back the tourism tax'
WESTERN BUREAU: HOTEL MOGUL Gordon 'Butch' Stewart has joined the growing list of persons calling for a roll-back of 2 per cent increase on the tourism sector, which was recently announced by Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies ...

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Neiman Marcus to be bought; stock falls
Verizon wins MCI with multibillion-dollar offer

Magnificent Gayle joins elite club - 317 makes opener Jamaica's highest runs scorer in Tests
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua :CHRISTOPHER GAYLE became Jamaica's highest scorer in a Test innings with a magnificent performance at the Antigua Recreation Ground yesterday.

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Still 'very proud' despite missing world record
White team wins polo tournament
Marshall in WI one-day squad
Gayle's way is his best bet
Akhtar left out of Caribbean tour

Recovering from 'Ivan'
REFLECTING THE resilience of the Jamaican people, the banana industry is set to make its first export shipment this week only six months after Hurricane Ivan devastated the crop.

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Spitting at Immaculate
No justice, just us

LETTER OF THE DAY - Those wretches should be expelled!
THE EDITOR, Sir: IT IS with disgust that I read a report that students at Immaculate Conception High School conspired to jepordise the health of a teacher, by spitting into her water bottle.

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Tax and regulate cannabis
Possible factors for Whitehouse delays
Be vigilant for the children's sake
A role for music in development

Chasing a dream - DEFERRED
MANY BELIEVE that the dream to shine brighter than all those around you as you float on the adulation of millions of fans, that is the dream of stardom, is fodder for the young. However, when one looks across the crowd of hopefuls that..

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Laughter for Prince, battle for Beetle

Trekking through - UNCHARTED TERRITORY
RECENTLY, I took a trek through uncharted territory in south St. Thomas with the Jamaica Geographic Society. On Saturday, April 16, I rose before the sun and, packing way more liquid than instructed ...

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Facts&Arguments

THE GOVERNMENT SAYS

GCT UP

* Rate climbs to 16.5%
* Income tax ceiling rises

CONSUMERS, GAMBLERS and smokers will have to dig deeper into their pockets this year to help the Government keep its promise of balancing the budget.

Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies, yesterday presented a tax plan to Parliament, intended to produce an extra $9.4 billion in revenue to plug the hole in this year's $347.2 billion spending plan. more

OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN on Finance, Audley Shaw, is not impressed with Government's plans for financing the 2005/2006 Budget.

Speaking to The Gleaner shortly after Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies, opened the Budget debate in the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. Shaw admitted that some assistance has been provided to the most economically vulnerable ­ through the raising of the income tax threshold ­ but argued that the same assistance has been negated by tax increases. more