The fleet of the Jamaica Fire Brigade is expected to be increased in the new fiscal year, following an allocation of $232 million. Details of the project are outlined in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure, which were tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, on February 15. The money will...

Essex Valley in St. Elizabeth is to benefit from the development of its irrigation infrastructure in the upcoming fiscal year. A sum of $457.6 million has been provided in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure to undertake this work and other activities. These include the development of lands; construction of access roads; and the construction of a pump-house, and well drilling....

Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Governor, Brian Wynter, says recent fluctuations in the exchange rate have resulted from greater demand for foreign currency and not a shortfall in supply. Noting that the exchange rate appreciated by 3.8 per cent during the October to December 2017 quarter, Mr. Wynter said this trend continued into the first week of January 2018, adding that...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has received another $19.2 million to carry out activities under the ongoing European Union (EU)-funded Technical Cooperation Facility VI project for the upcoming fiscal year. Set aside in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure, the money will go towards engaging a short-term consultant to support the Office of the National Authorising Officer (NAO) of the...

The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) will be issuing 64 bank guarantees to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the upcoming fiscal year. This exercise is to be carried out under the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded Credit Enhancement Programme. A sum of $250 million has been set aside in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure for this purpose. The project, which...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Administration is working to incorporate more sources of renewable energy into the country’s supply as it seeks to ensure greater energy security. “We are now at approximately18 per cent of our electricity needs being generated by renewables. We are on track to being able to supply 30 per cent of our...

The Registrar General’s Department (RGD) has completed the first phase of the Pilot of Online Verification of Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates and is now preparing to carry out phase two of the exercise. This is another of the RGD’s initiatives to further enhance its suite of services to its customers and to improve overall efficiency. The process allows for...