VOL.2, ISSUE # 2
APRIL— JUNE 2014
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS APRIL—JUNE 2014
A Q ua r te rl y N e ws l e tte r of t h e Scie n t if ic R e s e a rch Co un cil , Ja m a ica
This Newsletter highlights news, events and activities in Science & Technology (S&T) and related subjects which have taken place primarily in Jamaica over the last three months.
SRC Conference 2014 Learn more>>>
IN THIS ISSUE: 1 | AGRICULTURE 2 | AWARDS/COMPETITIONS 3 | BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 4 | CLIMATE CHANGE 5 | ENERGY 8 | ENVIRONMENT 8 | FOOD PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT 9 | FOOD SAFETY
SRC Young Inventors/innovators Competition 2014 - Participants from Steer Town Primary explaining their invention to a member of the SRC staff.
Agriculture Gov’t fast-tracking agro park initiative In keeping with the International Monetary Fund 2015 deadline for the development of nine agro parks, the government on Tuesday announced plans to fast-track this initiative by reallocating funds from the Agricultural Competitiveness Programme (ACP) to support infrastructural improvements at four agro parks.[...]
9 | HEALTH ISSUES 10 | INNOVATION 10 | MEDICAL MARIJUANA 12 | SCIENCE (EDUCATION)
Bamboo Breakthrough
With two consecutive years of higher yields, Odean Blake, a 65-year-old yam farmer from Allsides, close to Wait-A-Bit, Trelawney, is happy with his treated bamboo yam sticks. [...]
12 | TECHNOLOGY
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12 | WORKSHOP/SEMINARS 876-927-1771-4 (o) 876-977-1840 (f) CALL: (876) 927-1771– 4 VISIT www.src.gov.jm
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Making Science & Technolog y work for you
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS APRIL—JUNE 2014
CARIBBEAN S&T EVENTS FOR April - June 2014
June 21-26 – ESOF 2014Euroscience Open Forum June 23-24 – Jamaica Alternative Energy Expo June 25-27 – Call for Proposals and papers for Scientific Conference
Gov’t Launches Production of Castor Oil Beans The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has embarked on a drive to have a sustained production of castor oil beans in the island to meet the demand of local and overseas markets. [...]
New lab equipment to significantly improve agri standards Clarke
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Roger Clarke says the recent acquisition of laboratory equipment will have far reaching effects on the Ministry and the country.[...]
Mining Water Instead Of Gold Ten years after closing down operations, the AusJam Gold Mine in Pennants, Clarendon has become the sole source of another precious commodity for one community water.[...]
Awards/Competitions Savanna-La-Mar Primary Wins Environment Day Debate Competition When 11-year-old Shanika Howard of Green Island Primary School was informed that she was best speaker of the World Environment Day Debate Competition, she was elated. [...]
Red Stripe cops environment award
Red Stripe managed to cut its water use by 17 per cent. The 200 million liters it saved through its water recovery programme complemented the 50 per cent reduction in emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide from its US$7 million combined heat and power (CHP) plant.[...]
Mandeville Primary wins First Global Master Minds Quiz Competition It was a fight to the finish when the Manchester-based Mandeville Primary and Junior High matched up against Bickersteth Primary and Infant school out of St James in the finals of the First Global Master Minds Quiz competition. [...]
Primary schools to lead climate change discussion on World Environment Day Primary school students in the parish of Westmoreland will today have their say on whether protection of the famous Negril coast should solely be Government’s responsibility when they face off in a debate to mark World Environment Day. [...]
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS APRIL—JUNE 2014
Steer Town Primary and Vere Technical Win SRC Competition Steer Town Primary and Vere Technical were the respective winners in the 10-14 and 15-19 categories of the Young Inventors/Innovators Competition hosted by the Scientific Research Council (SRC). This was the third installment of the competition which began in 2008.[...]
Herboo nails it! Mandeville, Manchester Less than two years in, Herboo Enterprise a herbal cosmetic company in Cedar Grove Manchester is a cottage industry with one product to its credit an organic two-in-one shampoo and conditioner. But the start-up company, which is owned and operated by five Northern Caribbean University (NCU) students, was recently thrust [...]
Evelyn Mitchell Infant School cops top architectural award Almost four years after being designated Jamaica’s first early childhood centre of excellence by the Ministry of Education, the Evelyn Mitchell Infant School/Centre of Excellence has received yet another accolade. At the Jamaican Institute of Architects’ 2014 awards ceremony, the school’s architectural designers, Taylor Architects, were presented with the Governor General’s Award for Architecture as well [...]
Team NewAge advances to finals of Microsoft Imagine Cup Microsoft Jamaica has announced that Orane Campbell, a 23-year-old student of University College of the Caribbean (UCC), is among 31 finalists who will compete in the Microsoft Imagine Cup contest in Seattle, USA, from July 29 to August 2. It was UCC’s debut in the local leg of the competition.[...]
Business Development IDB creating opportunities for Jamaica’s youth The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has invested in several initiatives designed to engender growth and employment for Jamaica’s youth. The Clarendon Youth Information Centre (YIC) and National Youth Service (NYS) parish office, officially opened in Clarendon on May 16, is only “one step in the IDB’s partnership with the Government of Jamaica in creating opportunities for [...]
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS APRIL—JUNE 2014
Cabinet to receive regulatory draft for industrial hemp
A draft of the proposed regulatory framework for industrial hemp will be submitted to Cabinet shortly. “This will pave the way for a viable chain to be developed around the hemp industry in Jamaica,” Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Anthony Hylton has said. The minister was speaking at the post-sectoral debate press briefing, held at the [...]
New allergy tablets offer alternative to shots
For decades, seasonal allergy sufferers had two therapy options to ease the misery of hay fever. They could swallow pills or squirt nasal sprays every day for brief reprieves from the sneezing and itchy eyes. Or they could get allergy shots for years to gradually reduce their immune system’s over-reaction. [...]
Digicel hosting disaster preparedness seminars for businesses Digicel business will today host the first of two Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity seminars to help its corporate clients prepare in case a hurricane strikes. Today’s seminar will be held at the telecoms company downtown Kingston headquarters and will feature discussions on how businesses can prepare for and mitigate the effects of disasters using information [...]
Climate Change Climate change park coming to Portmore At one time it was to be the site of the Jamaica Football Federation’s training centre. Then there was talk that it was to be the home of the municipal offices. But last Friday, 15 acres of open lot across from the Portmore Mall was unveiled as the site for a climate change park. [...]
Jamaica Impresses On Climate Change Jamaica impresses on climate change Jamaica is being praised for making significant strides in raising public awareness about climate-change issues. A United States official has noted that the nation is working in a structured way to put in place the necessary infrastructure to address the potentially devastating impact of global warming on agriculture and other environmental issues. [...]
Gov’t To Boost Planning For Climate Change Thirty representatives from Jamaican ministries and agencies are, within weeks, expected to undergo training in climate change risk assessment and planning. The training forms part of the Government’s efforts to bolster the island’s readiness for climate-change impacts, including sea-level and sea-surface temperature increases, warmer temperatures and extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods and droughts. [...]
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS APRIL—JUNE 2014
Ground Zero for climate change Miami beach, United States (AFP) — Warm sunshine and sandy beaches make south Florida and its crown city, Miami, a haven for tourists, but the area is increasingly endangered by sea level rise, experts said Tuesday. During a special Senate hearing held in Miami Beach, Senator Bill Nelson described south Florida as “Ground Zero” for climate [...]
Revision of Climate Change Policy Scheme Nears Completion Jamaica’s Climate Change Framework Policy and Action Plan could receive parliamentary approval early this new financial year, following a series of public consultations to inform amendments to the document. “We have gone through the consultation stage. It is now at the Green Paper stage. The feedback received is now being included in the draft policy document [...]
Energy Jamaica Energy Partners seeks US$60m to retire debt CACAO JEP Limited, the principal shareholder for independent power producers Jamaica Energy Partners Limited and West Kingston Power Partners has made a private placement, through its brokers First Global Financial Services (FGFS) and Oppenheimer, of senior secured notes with which it intends to raise about US$60 million. [...]
A grand solar system
Grand Palladium Resort and Spa in Hanover is set to save over $80 million (roughly US$730,000) in energy costs per year with the recent installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant at the resort, renewable energy company Sofos Jamaica Ltd has announced. It was Sofos that installed the system, touted to be the largest solar [...]
JPS buys more solar, wind Windstream Technologies, a US-based renewable energy start-up secured US$8.1 million in additional wind-solar turbines orders from Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS). The supply arrangement follows on over US$14 million in orders from JPS in the first quarter of this year alone. “WindStream Technologies and Jamaica’s national utility company, JPS, have expanded their relationship with the execution of [...]
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS APRIL—JUNE 2014
ATL saves big with solar Since it installed solar equipment on the roofs of its newest showrooms at Oxford Road, St Andrew, in the latter half of last year, ATL Automotive has seen its monthly electricity bills decrease by more than half. Speaking at the ATL/Panasonic energy forum at ATL Autohaus Wednesday evening, managing director of the ATL Industrial group Danville [...]
New JPPC owners eye wind expansion
After fully buying Jamaica Private Power Company (JPPC) this week, Israel-based IC Power is eyeing wind power expansion locally. “For Jamaica, (IC Power) has indicated an interest in exploring investment opportunities including the possibility of developing a wind project which would help to diversify Jamaica’s generation capacity by adding more renewable power to the country’s energy [...]
Solar Power Risk – JPS Cautions That Alternative Energy Drive May Push Electricity Prices Higher
With renewables expected to account for 20 per cent of the country’s energy mix by 2018, John Kistle, senior vice-president for generation at the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), is worried that this could cause some Jamaicans to pay more for electricity. According to Kistle, some consumers could be saddled with unnecessary energy cost [...]
Promoting Environmental Wellness It’s only appropriate that an entity targeting the wellness of mind and body, should promote the wellness of the environment. Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa, which comes under the Environmental Health Foundation (EHF) of Jamaica, has implemented the use of green technology in all operational initiatives. Michelle Samuels, assistant manager, special projects. [...]
JPS Wants Right To Replace Old Generators
One day after Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller indicated that the licenses of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is to be amended to give an enterprise committee responsibility to lead and manage the process of procuring new generating capacity for the national grid, Kelly Tomblin, chief executive officer at [...]
St Kitts gets help to develop alternative forms of energy Basseterre, St Kitts (CMC) — A team of experts from the US-based Clinton Foundation Climate Initiative (CFCI) is due here later this month as the organization seeks to help St Kitts and Nevis in developing a strategy to reduce the cost of electricity on the twin island Federation, Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas has said. [...]
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS APRIL—JUNE 2014
Preserving Nature Montego Bay, St James — reggae artiste nature is living up to his moniker by preserving the environment, with the donation of well-needed garbage receptacles to the city of Montego Bay. The artiste, whose given name is Andre Ellis, on Monday handed over 12 drums to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), to be placed [...]
Paulwell wants debate on coal energy; JLP’s position still fuzzy Opposition spokesman on the environment, Dr Andrew Wheatley, says that the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) would welcome a debate on the use of coal energy to power major industrial developments, but will insist on the public health factors addressed. [...]
Wigton expansion priced at $4.6b The 24 megawatt (MW) expansion at Wigton Windfarm Limited will cost some $4.6 billion, according to a just released government documentation. The upgrade will increase energy production over 60 per cent at Wigton a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica. [...]
Solar powered farms to boost employment jamaican project gets boost from dfid The model of Jamaica’s first solar-powered hydroponic farm is to be replicated in urban areas across Jamaica, to create more job opportunities and enrich communities. Work has already begun using the model of the award winning “The Family Garden” project which has introduced sustainable farming practices, provided more than 40 jobs and a reliable electricity supply [...]
Solar Company asks Banks to Finance Renewables David Pijuan Mota, business development manager for solar engineering company Sofos Jamaica Limited, is encouraging local banks to get into the financing of solar installations, stating that the financial institutions could be earning income currently flowing to local utilities. [...]
Energy efficiency workshop in St Ann today A workshop to encourage Jamaicans to use energy wisely and to promote conservation and efficiency initiatives, will take place today at the Runaway Bay Heart Hotel and Training Institute, St Ann, beginning at 10:30 am. The event is part of a public education campaign for the Energy Efficiency Campaign Programme (EECP), launched in 2012. [...]
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS APRIL—JUNE 2014
Tourism Ministry to undertake $34 million ‘Clean Coasts Project’ Tourism and Entertainment Minister Wykeham McNeill says the ministry will be strengthening its partnership with the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) through a $34-million environmental awareness initiative called the ‘Clean Coasts Project’. The one-year project, funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), is intended to encourage Jamaicans to engage in sustained clean-up activities throughout the year instead [...]
Can Jamaica realise its saving potential from renewables? On the face of it, renewable energy should translate into savings for Jamaica. BMR Energy signed a deal on Wednesday to sell Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) electricity from its planned 34 megawatt (MW) wind farm at 12.9 US cents ($14.30) per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Bruce Levy reckons that the rate is almost half the cost of electricity [...]
Electricity heading to Hanover village at last Spring Mountain, Hanover — for more than three years, 60-odd- year-old Karl Munroe has been living alone in this farming community without the ‘luxury’ of electricity. According to the small farmer, who claims that his family has refused to take up residence with him in the quiet community due to the absence of electricity, life without [...]
Environment NEPA reports big drop in lionfish sightings Jamaica’s National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is reporting a big decline in sightings of lionfish, the voracious invasive species that has been wreaking havoc on regional reefs for years and wolfing down native juvenile fish and crustaceans. Some four years after a national campaign got started to slash numbers of the candy-striped predator with a [...]
Food Product Development It Sell Off… SRC’s Sweet Potato Juice the Rave at EXPO 2014 Jamaican’s and ground provisions share a love affair that dates all the way back to our ancestors. Sweet Potato as one of our beloved tubers is a big part of this affair. Prepared in many ways sweet potato is not only a suitable dinner item, but makes a rather tasty snack. Many are surprised by [...]
Gov’t Launches Production of Castor Oil Beans The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has embarked on a drive to have a sustained production of castor oil beans in the island to meet the demand of local and overseas markets. Castor oil beans are used to manufacture a wide variety of products, including lubricants, plastics, paints, and hair and skin care ointments. [...]
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS APRIL—JUNE 2014
Entrepreneur harnesses Cinnamon’s health benefits Trecia Rose had an idea and she ran with it. While lying in bed one morning, Rose thought to herself how much she enjoyed cinnamon tea. Alone, it was refreshing, she thought. So, imagine how great it would be when combined with the ultimate thirst quencher — water. [...]
The ‘Sweet’ Story Behind Patria-Kaye Aarons A true go-getter, Patria-Kaye Aarons has been relentless in her endeavour to make her dreams a reality. Having already made her mark in the corporate arena working for two of the country’s biggest corporate giants, Digicel and GraceKennedy, the marketing guru is now looking to churn success in the unlikeliest of pursuits – candymaking. [...]
Food Safety Food Safety agencies warn consumers about Organic Sprouted Chia Powder recall in the US The Food Safety Agencies of Jamaica under the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce as well as Ministry of Agriculture are warning consumers against consuming Organic Sprouted Chia Powder which is recalled in the US due to illnesses caused by the bacteria salmonella. [...]
Regional conference highlights need for new approach to debate on food security Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (CMC) — An international conference has ended here with Caribbean delegates indicating that the region needs to do more to influence the discussion on food security, nutrition and making a case for increased economic assistance. More than 700 policy-makers, development practitioners, donors, and others met here to evaluate emerging shocks that pose significant [...]
Health issues SRC to treat hospital waste Selected health care facilities across the island are to benefit from biodigester septic tanks that have been developed and patented by scientists at the Scientific Research Council (SRC). Board member of SRC Bevon Morrison said the current technology-driven solution to sewage disposal is the largest single waste water contract for the entity and the first time [...]
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS APRIL—JUNE 2014
Innovation Six schools to get $33m in equipment for disabled Some $33 million is to be spent providing computerised equipment to the disabled community. The project, according to Julian Robinson, state minister with responsibility for information communication technology, will see six schools being outfitted with specialised equipment to respond to the needs of the disabled community. The schools are the Llandilo School of Special Education in Westmoreland, [...]
The public understanding of science
Our failure to prosper may well be linked to our deficit of science savvy. Science is a big deal and the Ministry of Education is to deploy STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) across the school system to empower people and prompt innovation. Those who “whinge” that STEM restricts are misled. Science is not an enemy [...]
St Mary Agri Expo Gets Innovative Gates open at 8 o’clock this morning at the Gray’s Inn Sport Complex where the best of the parish’s agricultural, horticultural and livestock production will be showcased at the St Mary Agri Expo. The Innovation Tent will highlight the new and emerging trends in agriculture and agroprocessing, with agencies such as the Bureau of Standards Jamaica, [...]
Smartphone as teaching tool Mandeville, Manchester — St Elizabeth school teacher Romel Richards is looking forward to incorporating her newly acquired smartphone as a vital tool in helping her to connect with her students. According to a news release from telecommunications provider Digicel, this was her sentiment after purchasing her DL600 smartphone from a store in Juici Beef Plaza, Mandeville [...]
Medical Marijuana Can ganja use lead to ‘madness?’?
If the election campaign which began in early 1980 transformed that year into the year of the high -powered M-16 rifle, then certainly four years before, in the 1976 election campaign, the apprenticeship which made 1980 into the worst that we were politically capable of would make 1976 into the year of ‘the fire’. [...]
Concerns raised over ganja decriminalisation in Jamaica
The Cannabis Movement of St Lucia (CMSL) yesterday expressed concern over a decision by the Jamaican Government to implement changes in relation to the possession and smoking of marijuana. The CMSL said that the move announced last week breaks ranks with the position adopted by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to deal with the marijuana issue on [...]
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS APRIL—JUNE 2014
US researcher wants Ja to cooperate with Israel on medicinal marijuana
Cannabidlol re-searcher and investor Mark J Rosenfeld believes that, after resolving the issue of decriminalizing ganja, Jamaica should cooperate with Israel in determining the medicinal and commercial value of the plant. An American, who is the founder and chief executive officer of ISA Scientific, a company focusing on developing cannabinoid substances into legitimate human medicine, Rosenfeld [...]
Wind of change blowing on marijuana legalisation
Jamaica’s decision to decriminalize small quantities of cannabis for personal use has attracted attention here in Britain. The BBC treated the announcement as important news and posted on its website the dramatic headline ‘Jamaica Government announces major changes to drug laws’. The Guardian newspaper had the more factual ‘Ganja free: Jamaica decriminalizes marijuana for personal [...]
Ganja green light – Gov’t moves to change laws to allow limited use of marijuana
As Jamaica seeks to follow several countries and a number of American states that have legalized the possession of small amounts of ganja, the country’s justice minister, Senator Mark Golding, says he does not anticipate any backlash from international partners. That’s because, as Golding sought to explain during a Jamaica House press conference yesterday, the Portia [...]
Opposition leader says he ‘cured’ daughter’s asthma with ganja tea
Hamilton, Bermuda (CMC) — Opposition Leader Marc Bean has come under fire from a leading children’s rights advocate after admitting he gave his then-young daughter “ganja tea” to treat her asthma. The advocate, Sheelagh Cooper, said she was shocked by Bean’s statement in the House of Assembly. [...]
The other side of the ganja gold coin Now that the euphoria accompanying legalisation of medical marijuana and decriminalization of recreational cannabis in certain US States continues, it is appropriate to review the dangers accompanying this much-vaunted development destined to have a profound effect on users and potential abusers of narcotics. [...]
UWI signs MOU for medical marijuana research The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with GenCanna Global, Inc — trading as Strains of Hope — to facilitate the conduct of research into the medicinal properties of marijuana (cannabis sativa). The agreement, which will be effective for a period of three years, was signed by […
Cabinet to receive regulatory draft for industrial hemp
A draft of the proposed regulatory framework for industrial hemp will be submitted to Cabinet shortly. “This will pave the way for a viable chain to be developed around the hemp industry in Jamaica,” Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Anthony Hylton has said. The minister was speaking at the post-sectoral debate press briefing, held at the [...]
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS APRIL—JUNE 2014
Science (Education) To Catch A Farm Thief! As farmers continue to suffer at the hands of thieves who annually reap way more than $5 billion of produce they do not sow, a group of students from the Waterford High School, St Catherine, is offering a possible solution to the age-old problem. So impressive was the students’ Science and Environmental [...]
Student Gets Sweet Science Rewards
The 10-year-old lights up when speaking about the subject, which she loves because it allows her to try new things and discover how the world works. “Science is fun! I get to try experiments and you can learn how to change an old thing into modern gadgets,” she said. Driven by this passion [...]
Technology Smartphone as teaching tool Mandeville, Manchester — St Elizabeth school teacher Romel Richards is looking forward to incorporating her newly acquired smartphone as a vital tool in helping her to connect with her students. According to a news release from telecommunications provider Digicel, this was her sentiment after purchasing her DL600 smartphone from a store in Juici Beef Plaza, Mandeville [...]
Workshop/Seminars
Energy efficiency workshop in St Ann today
A workshop to encourage Jamaicans to use energy wisely and to promote conservation and efficiency initiatives, will take place today at the Runaway Bay Heart Hotel and Training Institute, St Ann, beginning at 10:30 am. The event is part of a public education campaign for the Energy Efficiency Campaign Programme (EECP), launched in 2012. Jointly funded by [...]
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS APRIL—JUNE 2014
CALL: (876) 927-1771– 4 VISIT www.src.gov.jm
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS APRIL—JUNE 2014
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CONTACT US: Documentation Centre Scientific Research Council Hope Gardens, P.O. Box 350 Kingston 6, Jamaica W.I. 876-927-1771-4 (o) 876-977-1840 (f) marketech@src-jamaica.org www.src.gov.jm
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