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Phase II of the Cornwall Regional Hospital Rehabilitation project, which includes significant work on the ventilation system, is expected to be completed in the 2018/19 fiscal year. This was disclosed by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, while delivering the 2018/19 Throne Speech in Parliament on February 15. Citing other programmes that will be undertaken by the...

The Government will be constructing two drop-in centres in Trelawny and St. Thomas this year as temporary accommodation for transient, homeless persons. The facilities will bring to eight the number of drop-in centres set up across the island through the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development. Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Patrick Allen, made the disclosure while delivering...

During the fiscal year 2018/2019, the Ministry of Transport and Mining will seek to re-establish the rail service, increase earnings from the minerals sector, and implement measures to improve road safety. Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, made the disclosure as he delivered the Throne Speech at Gordon House on Thursday (February 15), where he outlined priority...

The 2018/19 session of Parliament got under way today (February 15) with the traditional pomp and pageantry. It was highlighted by the delivery of the Throne Speech by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen. His address outlined the priority programmes and policies to be pursued by the Government in the new fiscal year, which begins on April...

Work on the transformation of the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) into the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), is slated to commence during the 2018/19 fiscal year. Additionally, the proposed National Identification and Registration Authority Regulations are slated to be developed and tabled in Parliament by September 2018. These are among several engagements the Government will undertake during this year...

The Government will be intensifying efforts for Jamaican skilled workers and businesses to have greater access to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The position was outlined by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, as he delivered the Throne Speech at Gordon House on Thursday (February 15). He said that Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government and its stakeholders will strive to work closer together to better serve the citizens of Jamaica. “We all have our separate roles in Government, and though we are separated by virtue of our roles and functions, we are still part of one body; and when we work together for the...

The Jamaica Customs Agency’s (JCA) capabilities will be further strengthened in 2018/19 as the Government positions the entity to continue driving economic growth through trade facilitation, revenue collection and border protection. Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, said that this year, the JCA will, among other things, improve the rate of detection of contraband, and prohibited and...

Through the Major Infrastructure Development Programme (MIDP), the Government will improve the carrying capacity of several major traffic corridors in the upcoming fiscal year. Delivering the 2018/19 Throne Speech in Parliament on February 15, Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, informed that the Barbican Road and Mandela Highway Improvement Projects will be completed. He pointed out that...

The National Housing Trust (NHT) will deliver 11,103 houses to the market for fiscal year 2018/19. The number comprises 6,369 housing starts and 4,734 housing completions. In addition, 8,000 new loans will be created. Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, made the disclosure while delivering the Throne Speech to open the new parliamentary year in Gordon House...

A total of $220 million will be spent by the Government on two programmes geared at expanding and improving the island’s water capacity infrastructure. The projects are the construction and maintenance of rural water systems, valued at $120 million; and the rehabilitation of irrigation systems, costing $100 million. This was disclosed by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick...

The Government will be implementing a number of strategies for child development and protection during fiscal year 2018/2019. Included in the package are improvements to early-childhood educational facilities; additional investments for technology in schools; updating of the Child Care and Protection Act; and broadcast regulations to safeguard children and vulnerable groups. According to Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir...