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An allocation of $200 million has been made available in the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure to provide motor vehicle loans to certain categories of public officers, as agreed with the Government and the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions. According to the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House, $20 million has also been set aside to provide computer loans...

The Registrar General's Department (RGD) yesterday (April 1) ended what the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Patricia Holness said was a successful three-city United Kingdom tour during which more than 320 applications were received. In addition to the applications for certificates for births, deaths, and marriages the RGD also received four applications for genealogical research. And according to Dr. Holness the...

According to the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, $50.06 million has been allocated to the Scholarships and Assistance Programme. The Programme ensures that public sector workers are adequately trained, thereby maintaining a professionally qualified and competent staff cadre. In pursuance of this goal, scholarships and financial assistance are offered in selected target disciplines, to public...

Further strengthening of the support system for farmers and other key stakeholders in the agricultural sector is expected during 2008/09, as $282.7 million has been allocated to the Agricultural Support Services Project (ASSP). This is outlined in the Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The project, funded by the Government and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is...

A sum of $4.19 billion has been set aside to provide for the repayment of loans raised from commercial banks to finance water and sewerage projects; working capital support for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited (JUTC); and loans for the Sugar Company of Jamaica, assumed by the Government. According to the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House,...

Commissioner of Police, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin has said that increased police presence will have a marked effect on the levels of crime and violence in Jamaica. "We feel very strongly that what is really going to have a marked effect on levels of crime and violence is the extent to which we can provide effective deterrents," he emphasized, during...

Phase two of the programme to protect children in emergencies by strengthening the capacity of schools and their surrounding communities to respond to disasters, has received an allocation of $3.9 million in the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure. The funds will help to: develop and prepare, for community recognition, 50 disaster management plans in 50 children's homes and schools; establish 25...

The Creative Production and Training Centre (CPTC), has been allocated $10 million in the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. This allocation will be used to purchase equipment for both the studio and the Media Technology Institute (MTI). The CPTC is one of Jamaica's and the Caribbean's leading multi-media production and training facilities, offering first-class services...

The Banana Support Project in the Ministry of Agriculture has been allocated $306.9 million in the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The project, which is funded by the Government and the European Union (EU), seeks to promote sustainable development in the traditional banana growing areas of Jamaica. Under the Banana Improvement Programme, several contracts have...

Social development will be further boosted with an allocation of $200 million to the Social Development Commission, as outlined in the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The Social Development Commission is charged with creating and deepening mechanisms for the involvement of civil society in the management of their affairs at the community and national level....

The Northern Jamaica Development Project has been allocated $2.6 billion, according to the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. According to the Estimates, the project seeks to improve infrastructure in tourism centres, on the northern coast of Jamaica. Physical achievements up to March 2008 included 100 per cent construction of road surface in Negril and Montego...

The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) has been allocated a total of $56.2 million in the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. Of the sum, $6.4 million will be used for conducting training seminars and to cover related expenses. A wide variety of programmes are offered through this training activity, which can be customized to suit...