JAMAICA BUSINESS NEWS: November 15th – 21st, 2014

GOVERNMENT TO MONITOR PROPOSED COLUMBUS INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION—11/15/14
The government of Jamaica is planning to monitor the proposed acquisition of Columbus International by Cable & Wireless Communications. The deal, which totals US$3 billion, involves two companies that claim a large portion of Jamaica’s fixed line and broadband markets. Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Phillip Paulwell, says he will be “very vigilant” about how the deal goes forward in order to preserve competition in the market.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK SCHEDULED BY JBDC—11/16/14
The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) will host a variety of activities as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week from November 17 to 22, 2014. The event is the largest celebration of job creators and innovators in the world. The theme of the celebration is “Shaping the Entrepreneurial Mindset” and seeks to inspire micro, small, and medium-sized businesses in Jamaica via national and local initiatives for exploring their efforts at self-starting and innovation.

INTERNATIONAL CANNABIDOL SPECIALIST JOINS JAMAICAN FIRM—11/17/14
Timeless Herbal Care (THC), a Jamaican company working in the field of medicinal marijuana, has announced the addition of Dr. William Courtney, an international Cannabidol researcher and specialist, to its operations. Dr. Courtney will be a member of a team of global and local researchers at the company’s research center at the University of the West Indies, Mona. He is an internationally recognized leader in medicinal marijuana treatment, as well as a member of the American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine.

GOVERNMENT WANTS IDB TO AID WITH CONSTRUCTION OF ABBATOIRS—11/18/14
Jamaica’s government has asked the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for help in building certified abattoirs on the island. These facilities would be designed to provide appropriate conditions for animal butchering. According to Derrick Kellier, Jamaican Minister of Agriculture, Labor and Social Security, this represents one of several measures meant to protect and enhance the quality of foods produced locally on the island.