Ninety-five per cent of the construction of emergency fibre and microwave backbone under Phase 1 of the National Broadband Initiative is now complete. The initiative aims to have every household and community connected to the Internet by 2025. Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon Daryl Vaz, said that “with this backbone along with the government wide area network, we’ll...

Up to one million transactions between public health institutions will soon be processed at a time, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure. The ICT project is currently being networked to all public health centres and hospitals and will provide real-time data for patient treatment. Its implementation is expected to be completed by September...

Several projects are being undertaken by the Government to increase the housing stock for Jamaicans. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Everald Warmington, said in tandem with the work being done by the housing agencies to increase the housing stock, the Projects and Technical Services Branch of the Ministry is also undertaking construction...

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon, Olivia Grange, says if Jamaica is to realise its dreams of being “a land of peace and love, we must find a way to instil hope in our young people”. In a message to launch the “Jamaica-60” celebrations in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday, the Minister, in a speech delivered by Jamaica’s Consul-General...

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) will be spearheading the implementation of several projects, valued just over US$1 million, which are programmed for rollout during fiscal year 2022/23. These engagements, which aim to bolster the local entrepreneurship ecosystem, are being financed by the Government of Jamaica and several international development partners. Details of these initiatives were outlined by Deputy Chief...

Ground was broken for the rehabilitation of the Salt Spring Primary and Infant School in St. James by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) on May 12. Renovation of the facility will be funded by the Government of Jamaica at a cost of more than $34 million. The project, which is being done under JSIF’s Integrated Community Development Project II...

The Forestry Department, the lead agency responsible for Jamaica’s forest resources, is providing free seedlings to the public for Labour Day, Monday, May 23. Labour Day will be observed under the theme ‘Reigniting a Nation for Greatness –Protect our Heritage and Environment’. Persons can get up to 10 timber and ornamental tree seedlings free of cost from the Forestry Department’s...

The Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) is gearing up to host pre-teens, teens and young adults during their face-to-face summer semester programme. The programme for the four to 12 year olds is being described as a ‘Kaleidoscope’ Arts Workshop by Director for School of Continuing Education and Allied Programmes at the EMCVPA, Leighton Jones. Addressing...

Work on the draft National Housing Policy and Implementation Plan is being finalised during the 2022/23 fiscal year, to advance it to a White Paper. Speaking in the House of Representatives recently, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Everald Warmington, said the draft document is currently being revised in keeping with the feedback...