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Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, has said that the creation of conditions for growth will be the first priority of the Government's Medium-Term Economic Programme for the 2010/11 Fiscal Year. Delivering the Throne Speech during Thursday's (March 25) State Opening of Parliament at Gordon House, Sir Patrick said the administration's overarching objective is a return to...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, the Hon Audley Shaw, tabled the Estimates of Expenditure totalling approximately $500 billion in the House of Representatives, Thursday (March 25). Fulfilling a promise he made while tabling the Second Supplementary Estimates at Gordon House a week ago, that the new budget would be some $100 billion less than last year's, the Minister...

As the Tax Administration steps up its compliance activities against delinquent taxpayers to collect outstanding taxes, several strategies have been employed. The compliance programme will be further intensified in the new fiscal year, which begins April 1, 2010. To date, for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the increased enforcement actions have seen 3,184 taxpayers being brought before the court for various...

Minister with responsibility for Information, Daryl Vaz has made an appeal for funds raised by various private entities to be put towards the Haitian Relief Fund, in order to provide further financial assistance in processing the Haitian refugees who arrived in the island earlier this week. Mr. Vaz told a press briefing this morning at Jamaica House that the Haitian...

As the world continues to grapple with the dangers of global warming and abnormal weather patterns, the Government of Jamaica is committing to placing these issues at the top of its agenda this legislative year. While delivering the Throne Speech in Gordon House today (March 25) to mark the official start of the new Parliamentary year, Governor-General, His Excellency the...

The Government will be intensifying its efforts this year to fight crime and violence with the introduction of new pieces of legislation to strengthen initiatives and place pressure on criminal networks. Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, highlighted this today (March 25) as he delivered the Throne Speech in Gordon House outlining the Government's thrust for the...

For fiscal year 2010/11, the Government will give priority attention to the economy, crime, education and the infrastructure, while seeking to increase its support for the poor, protecting citizens' rights and strengthening the role of the Houses of Parliament. This was highlighted in the Throne Speech delivered by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, at the State...

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, has assured that measures are in place to properly process Haitian refugees who land in the island. A total of 62 Haitians arrived in Manchioneal and Fairy Hill, in Portland, in boats, on March 23, and were processed by...

The matter of putting unutilised and underutilised arable lands into agricultural production, dominated the Town Hall meeting, which Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, held with farmers, at Breezes Hotel, in Trelawny, on March 23. Dr. Tufton also outlined the Arable Lands Irrigated and Growing for the Nation (ALIGN) project, through which the Ministry plans to revolutionise...

Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced that as part of the Ministry's drive to engage in more data-driven decision making, it will soon be introducing national student registration. "Within the national student registration, which I will speak more of when we are close to implementation, every student will be assigned a unique account number. And within that account...

Jamaican children with Type 1 diabetes are to benefit under an international programme, which is designed to reduce mortality associated with the disease. Dubbed 'Life for a Child', the initiative, which is funded by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), will provide insulin, syringes and glucose monitoring devices to centres, which cater to diabetic children. A total of 200 of the...

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has said that the Government is exploring the possibility of implanting microchips in farm animals to ensure traceability of meat at all times. He said that this technique is already being used in some countries around the world and Jamaica is looking into its use. Dr. Tufton was responding to questions...