The Government has allocated $30 million in the 2026/27 Estimates of Expenditure to enhance the resilience of the agricultural sector and coastal areas. The Estimates was tabled in the House of Representatives on February 12 by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams. The ongoing project is being implemented by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), the...

The Government has earmarked $1.66 billion to support the ongoing public-sector transformation programme. The allocation is included in the 2026/27 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, on February 12. According to the document, the public-sector transformation programme aims to enhance the efficiency of managing the public...

Public health teams in Westmoreland inspected more than 25,000 homes in January as part of intensified mosquito control measures, identifying nearly 3,000 premises with active breeding sites. Chief Public Health Inspector, Steve Morris, reported that inspections were conducted in 2,209 localities during the month, resulting in the identification and treatment of thousands of mosquito breeding containers. He outlined that 72,941...

More than 1,200 bait stations have been deployed across Westmoreland under the expanded rodent-control programme. This initiative aims to improve environmental sanitation and safeguard public health. Chief Public Health Inspector for Westmoreland, Steve Morris, reported that 1,234 bait stations have been placed in targeted communities. The initiative forms part of broader mitigation efforts undertaken since the start of the year....

The HEART/NSTA Trust, on February 17, launched the Building Resilience and Inspiring Development through Guided Experience (BRIDGE) Project, which aims to provide structured on the job training for 200 youth from communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. The BRIDGE Project targets unemployed and at risk youth between the ages of 18 and 25 who have exited the formal...

The House of Representatives has approved changes to two pieces of legislation to address a long-standing administrative issue relating to the operation of the income and asset tax systems and respond to the national emergency caused by Hurricane Melissa. They are the Asset Tax Specified Bodies Amendment Bill and the Income Tax Amendment Bill, which provide for a limited adjustment...

The Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) has welcomed the move to impose a Special Consumption Tax (SCT) on non-alcoholic beverages containing added sugar or other caloric sweeteners, as a victory for preventive medicine and the long-term health of the population. Declaring support for the Government’s action, MAJ President, Professor Marvin Reid, said the group’s position on the tax has to...