Four companies that produce sauces and spices are to receive food-safety certification this fiscal year as the Government works to increase the competitiveness of food-processing entities, particularly in the export markets. This will bring to six the number of firms in this industry to receive certification under the Economic Partnership Agreement II (EPA II) Capacity Building Project. The project aims...

With the maintenance of law and order high on the agenda of the Government, a sum of $8.4 billion has been budgeted to bolster the capabilities of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). This includes $1.77 billion for cybersecurity initiatives by the JDF; $1.36 billion to increase the mobility of the JDF; $2.45 billion to purchase helicopters to assist in search...

As the Government works to create an environment that will allow local businesses to thrive, a sum of $1 billion has been set aside next fiscal year for a project promoting the competiveness and growth of the sector. The project aims to strengthen the enabling environment for private-sector competitiveness to help Jamaica unleash productivity and growth. This will be done...

Thousands of students from educational institutions across Jamaica will celebrate Jamaica Day on Friday, February 23. Senior Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and Chairman of the Jamaica Day Planning Committee, Marlon Williams, told JIS News that Jamaica Day 2018 will be observed under the theme ‘Celebrating Jamaica: Nurturing our Natural and Cultural Heritage’. “Every year...

Building design plans are to be developed in the upcoming fiscal year to allow members of the disabled community easier access to the island’s courts. This is to be carried out under the Technical Cooperation Facility V project, for which a sum of $78.5 million has been allotted in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure. The funds will also be used...

The Government has earmarked $1.29 billion as contingency funding for natural disasters/infrastructure rehabilitation and the Public Investment Management System this year. The sum has been allocated in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure, which were tabled in the House of Representatives last week. A total of $500 million is being made available, through the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service,...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (right), greets outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Niu Qingbao, when he called at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston on February 21.