The Government has budgeted $211 million to continue work to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of key social protection programmes in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The allocation, contained in the 2017/18 Estimates of Expenditures now before the House of Representatives, will go towards the ‘Integrated Social Protection and Labour Programme,’ which is being funded by the Inter-American...

The Government has allocated $19.5 million to a project that will enhance Jamaica’s resilience to bush fire hazards and reduce their negative impact on economic activities and livelihoods, infrastructure, human welfare and life. The allocation for the project, titled ‘Developing a Comprehensive Bush Fire Warning Index for Effective Bush Fire Management’, is outlined in the Estimates of Expenditure, now before...

An allocation of $80 million has been made in the 2017-18 financial year to contribute to the implementation of aspects of the Government’s development strategy, which are being carried out through European Union (EU)-financed programmes. The purpose of the project, which will provide a coherent and informed approach to development and trade issues, is to identify, formulate and implement activities...

A sum of $8.5 million has been allocated to the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) for a project to strengthen the capacity of personnel in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and key sectors in post-disaster impact assessment, which will better inform decision making and resilience building. The project, titled Building Capacity in Post Disaster Needs Assessment, will run from June...

Prime Minister Andrew Holness this morning (February 17) broke ground for a new US$1.03M Sewerage facility in his Saint Andrew West Central constituency. Speaking at the ceremony Prime Minister Holness said the project will improve the quality of life for the people of Olympic Court, Bay Farm Villa and Compound. “We must crank the engine of economic growth through the...

An allocation of $130 million has been made to a project to support the Government in addressing trade deficits, to accelerate exports, enhance competitiveness and integrate the local economy into global markets. Outlined in the 2017-18 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the Economic Partnership II (EPA II) Capacity Building Project is being funded by the European...

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service will continue implementation of the Strategic Public Sector Transformation Project through a $887 million allocation in the 2017-18 Estimates of Expenditure, which has been tabled in the House of Representatives. The project, which commenced in August 2014, aims to strengthen public resource management and support public sector institutions in facilitating a more...