The Government is to procure contraband detection machinery and equipment this fiscal year, as it moves to strengthen the island’s customs control and security. A sum of $2.58 billion has been allocated under the Fiscal Administration Modernisation Programme for the project, as outlined in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House. The overall objective of the programme is...

The Government is to complete the procurement of 200 goat embryos for assisted breeding this fiscal year, to improve the quality and efficiency of the small ruminant industry. A sum of $34.7 million has been allocated in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure to carry out this and other initiatives under the Diversification of the Caribbean Livestock through the Production of...

A total of 60 gravity drip irrigation systems are to be installed and commissioned this fiscal year, to improve agricultural outcomes in targeted communities. A sum of $110.4 million has been set aside in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure to carry out this and other activities under the Enhancing the Resilience of the Agricultural Sector and Coastal Areas project. The...

The capacity of the island’s vulnerable communities to improve their resilience to climate change and other risk factors has been further boosted with an allocation of $19.6 million. As outlined in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, the money has been provided  under the ‘Enhancing the Resilience of the Agricultural Sector and Coastal Areas’  project. The project aims to protect the...

The Government’s development strategy is to be further advanced with another allotment of $10.1 million in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The sum has been provided under the Technical Cooperation Facility IV project, which aims to contribute to the implementation of the Jamaican Government's development strategy, through support to programmes financed by the European...

The Government has set aside more than $100 million to upgrade facilities at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium, and the National Arena,  in St. Andrew. For the Trelawny stadium, irrigation infrastructure will be constructed at a cost of $57 million, while a $60 million enhancement project will be undertaken at the National Arena, to host national, regional and international events. Anticipated...

The Government is to spend $1.3 billion this fiscal year to increase its fleet of Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses. The money has been provided in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. A sum of $500 million of the allocation will be used to complete the acquisition of 35 Chinese buses by the JUTC...

Public access to Jamaica’s cultural heritage will be improved by a $96 million upgrading project to develop advanced audiovisual technology and more frequent outreach activities. The money will be used to complete the second phase of the construction and diorama for the Natural History Museum of Jamaica’s Exhibition Gallery; and complete the preparatory infrastructure works at three areas of the...

Two training courses are to be implemented this fiscal year for Government and non-Government officers in European Union (EU) procedures. This is to be done under the Technical Cooperation Facility (TCF) V project, for which $129.3 million has been provided in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project seeks to identify, formulate and implement...