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Some $20.28 million has been allocated to the Northern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (Environmental Monitoring), in the 2007/08 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The objectives are to establish an environmental monitoring unit for highway construction projects, which will monitor the Northern Highway Improvement Project for the duration of its construction phase; to monitor and enforce the...

The Education Transformation team hopes to complete regional consultations on the National School Board Association (NSBA) soon for the body to be launched by the end of May. "We are hoping and working toward probably a soft launch down in May sometime, toward the end of May, but we will be guided by the board chairmen as we meet them...

Newly appointed High Commissioner to Canada, Evadne Coye, has challenged Jamaicans living in that country to get more involved with young people in the Jamaican diaspora, in order to stem the youth-at-risk problem. "We need to do something to ensure that the youth take advantage of all the opportunities that are here. So, I'm challenging all of us to take...

Government has earmarked some $286 million this fiscal year to facilitate the construction and improvement of courthouses islandwide. As contained in the 2007/08 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives, the money will be used to re-establish a courthouse in Morant Bay, St. Thomas; to effect repairs to the Resident Magistrate (RM) Court in Montego Bay; and to...

The Trafficking in Persons project has been allocated $8.83 million in the 2007/08 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives. The objective of the project is to expand the initial focus on domestic violence in the loan operation to include sexual exploitation and trafficking in persons. Targets envisaged for this project include the conduct of a...

A sum of $182.12 million has been assigned to the Ministries of National Security, and Justice to purchase surveillance vessels for the Jamaica Defence Force, during the 2007/08 fiscal period. The provision has been made in the Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives. The objective of the project is to enhance Jamaica's offshore capabilities and...

A sum of $13 million has been set aside in the 2007/08 Estimates of Expenditure for the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), to facilitate the development and improvement of the environment, and physical attractiveness of resort areas. A major focus of this activity during the financial year will be the implementation of beautification projects in Kingston and the South Coast....

The Government has allocated $148 million to the National Irrigation Development Project to increase crop production and diversity, thereby increasing farm incomes and rural employment in the long term. This is outlined in the 2007/08 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. Implemented in May 2002, the project is jointly funded by the Government and the Caribbean Development...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), has been allocated $15 million towards the implementation of the Hazard Management Project for coastal towns and cities. This provision has been made in the 2007/08 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project seeks to produce a comprehensive multi-hazard disaster management plan for the coastal towns and...

A sum of $400 million has been allocated to a project to protect children in emergencies. The implementing agency is the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), and the project is entitled: Protecting Children by Strengthening the Capacity of Schools and their Surrounding Communities to respond to Disasters (Phase 2). The provision has been made in the Estimates...

The Improving Governance through Citizen Security and Participation project has been allocated $140 million to purchase goods, services and equipment for the 2007/2008 financial year. This is contained in the Estimates of Expenditure for the new financial year, now before the House of Representatives. According to the Estimates, the project aims to assist the Government of Jamaica to address the...

The Banana Support Project in the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is to receive $554 million this fiscal year, to continue its work to promote sustainable development in the traditional banana growing areas of Jamaica. This provision was made in the 2007/08 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives. Since February 2007, more than 664 banana and 135...