Study: Tivoli Gardens Unrest Cost Jamaica $258.8 Million

By: - May 23rd, 2011

According to a study by the Planning Institute of Jamaica, the unrest in Kingston’s troubled Tivoli Gardens neighborhood involving the raid on strongman Christopher Coke cost the country approximately $258.8 million (nearly $22 billion in Jamaican currency). The economic effects were determined by the cost of physical assets damaged, the duration of losses to various sectors and the amount of contingency spending, according to the Economic and Social Survey 2010 published by the PIOJ last month. [Jamaica Observer]

Jamaica

Singer Spragga Benz Leads Campaign for Leniency in Buju Banton Case

By the Caribbean Journal staff Singer Spragga Benz is spearheading a campaign on Twitter to encourage fans to send letters supporting leniency for Buju Banton, who is awaiting a sentencing hearing on his conviction on three drug charges. Banton will go before Federal Judge James Moody of the Middle District of Florida on June 23.

Jamaica

Jamaican Economy to Grow 1 to 2 Percent

The Jamaican economy could grow between 1 and 2 percent his year, according to the Bank of Jamaica. The growth will be driven by extensions in agriculture, mining and quarrying, along with hotels and restaurants. “The Jamaican economy has started to show concrete signs of recovery,” said BOJ Governor Brian Wynter. “Interest rates are at […]

Jamaica

Jamaica to Enter Medical Tourism Market

Reginald Budhan, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Jamaica intends to enter the multibillion-dollar medical tourism market, although at this time it lacks the required facilities to do so. One investor, however, the Hospiten Group, is considering building a 200-bed hospital in Montego Bay, which would cater to private clients and […]

Working to Preserve Reggae's Identity

 Above: Carlyle McKetty (left) and Sharon Gordon By Alexander Britell For Carlyle McKetty and Sharon Gordon, protecting reggae is a way of life. The world recently marked the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley’s premature death, and in that time, much of reggae has stayed true to its origins, but some has been lost due to […]

New Airline REDjet Lobbies for Flights to Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago

 New low-fare Caribbean air carrier REDjet is unable to fly to Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, and is asking politicians in the two countries to change their current policy. “REDjet is extremely disappointed for its passengers in Trinidad and Jamaica as the airline has yet to receive word from the two countries as to when […]

Jamaica Defence Force Mum on Internal Review of Coke Raid

 Above: Carlyle McKetty (left) and Sharon Gordon By Alexander Britell For Carlyle McKetty and Sharon Gordon, protecting reggae is a way of life. The world recently marked the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley’s premature death, and in that time, much of reggae has stayed true to its origins, but some has been lost due to […]

Jamaica Bar Association President Calls For Shift to Caribbean Court of Justice

 Ian Wilkinson, the president of the Jamaica Bar Association, described calls for a domestic final court of appeal in Jamaica “a retrograde step,” saying that it was time for the country to sign on to the Caribbean Court of Justice as its final court, instead of the Privy Council. “[A domestic court] has been canvassed […]