The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is targeting another 8,093 hectares (20,000 acres) of Government land for development into agro-parks over the next five years. The move forms part of the Ministry’s undertaking to preserve and utilise the 271,600 hectares, or 25 per cent, of Jamaica’s just over one million hectares of land, deemed suitable for agriculture. It will also...

A total of 297 farmers from five parishes have been empowered with weather pattern information through a US$100,000 grant from the Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate Change (Ja REEACH) Project. This was under the training component of the project, involving the Meteorological Service (Met Office), the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and...

A transportation hub is to be constructed in Portmore, St. Catherine, as the Government works to improve the efficiency of the public passenger system in the Kingston Metropolitan Region (KMR). The project, which will cost approximately €47,312,093, is expected to be undertaken over 24 months. Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, made the announcement on...

Public transportation operations in downtown Kingston are expected to be significantly improved by June 2016, when the Government is slated to roll out new arrangements. Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, made the announcement during his 2015/16 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, April 21. “The new arrangements will see improvements...

The Ministry of Agriculture is slated to spend over $418 million in 2015/16, to continue work on existing agro-parks and establish new facilities. This allocation, according to Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, will complement the $718 million spent over the past two years to develop the nine agro-parks currently in operation. He made this disclosure during...

There was a buzz of activity in Ocho Rios this morning as nearly one thousand Chinese vacationers descended on the resort town to experience Jamaica’s world class tourism offerings. The group represents the single largest number of Chinese visitors to vacation on the island ever. The visitors were brought into Ocho Rios on board the Costa Atlantica cruise ship as...

Jamaicans are being encouraged to support the Jamaica Cancer Society’s (JCS) effort to raise awareness as well as promote early detection and treatment of all cancers. This call comes from Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, who said the reward for such support “could well be the saving of your own life or that of a family...

Five potential bidders will be invited to participate in the Request for Proposal stage for the privatisation of the Norman Manley International Airport. They have been identified and shortlisted by the Enterprise Team, which has been established to supervise the privatization process. Making his contribution to the 2015/16 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on April 21, Minister of...

Construction of the North/South leg of Highway 2000 is scheduled to be completed by the first quarter of 2016. Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, made the disclosure during his contribution to the 2015/16 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, April 21. The Highway is being constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company...