Capital projects, totalling $7 billion, which are programmed to upgrade Jamaica’s water infrastructure during fiscal year 2023/24, represent the largest investment made in the sector to date. This, according to Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, who said the figure is a significant increase over the $4 billion worth...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda (second left), accepts a gift from Vice Minister of Natural Resources (Administrator of Oceanic Administration) of China, Wang Hong (second right), during a courtesy call on February 28 at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices. Others (from left) are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry,...

Jamaica’s economy is estimated to have grown by 5.1 per cent between January and December 2022. This was disclosed by Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, who said the out-turn was spurred by an estimated six per cent growth for the Services industry and 2.1 per cent for the Goods Producing Industry. “All [sub]...

Jamaica’s economy continues to show strong growth, with the 5.9 per cent out-turn for the July to September 2022 quarter being higher than the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) projection. This, according to BOJ Governor, Richard Byles, who noted that the economy continued to expand in the October to December 2022 quarter and the January to March 2023 period, to date....

A 50,000-gallon storage tank, valued at $22 million, has been commissioned in York Town, Clarendon, by the National Water Commission (NWC) to improve service delivery. The project was completed under the NWC’s Tank and Pump Rehabilitation for Operational Efficiency Improvement Programme. Six hundred residents of the communities of York Town, Howells Content, Bullards Content, Hopewell, Parnassus, Denbigh Drive, Foga Road...

Destination Jamaica has been endorsed as one for “all the world’s people to enjoy [its] friendship and hospitality” by Assistant Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Dr. Wenjian Zhang. In an interview with JIS News at the closing of the WMO Regional Conference (Regional Association IV), on February 9 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Dr. Zhang lauded the hospitality...

A call has been made for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to take steps to ensure that populations across the world are educated about the link between climate change and slow and gradual weather events. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, made the call during Tuesday’s (February 6) Conference...

A major urban tree planting thrust will kick off with the planting of 3,000 saplings along Lady Musgrave and East King’s House Roads in St. Andrew. This undertaking forms part of the National Tree Planting Initiative (NTPI) to replenish Jamaica’s forest cover. Under the initiative, which was announced by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, in November 2019, three...

Economic opportunities are expected to abound for Jamaica, through the establishment of a multibillion-dollar ship repair and maintenance facility in the country. Called the German Ship Repair Jamaica (GSRJ) Shipyard, the project will provide dry docking (lifting the ship out of the water) for commercial vessels up to 20,000 tons, and a range of maintenance and repair services to vessels...