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The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, will spend $210 million this financial year to increase competitiveness in the agricultural sector, by facilitating access to international markets for small and medium sized farmers. The initiative also seeks to ensure the production of safe and good quality agricultural products and food; and stimulate public-private investment in the development of agribusinesses. Under the...

Washington DC - State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Arnaldo Brown, is encouraging members of the Diaspora to invest in Jamaica, which is wide open for business. The Minster, who was addressing a launch event for the upcoming 5th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, held at the Jamaica Consulate in New York City, said there...

MONTEGO BAY - Government is looking at the possibility of using sections of the Montpelier property in St. James, to provide space for housing solutions in the parish. Following an assessment tour on April 5, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, said that although the Montpelier lands are primarily used for agricultural production, about 1,000 hectares, which can...

A sum of $107 million has been allotted to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Reform Programme, as outlined in the 2013/14 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives. The programme aims to provide budgetary support for crime fighting activities in the island. The allocation for this fiscal year will go towards: the purchase of equipment and...

The Sugar Transformation Unit is to receive $2.1 billion, as the Government sustains its thrust to develop a sustainable private sector-led cane industry by 2015.               Another $96 million will be used to repair sugar cane roads at Appleton, Bernard Lodge, Everglades, Frome, Golden Grove, Monymusk, and Worthy Park factories.             Details of this allocation are contained in the...

Approximately $18.9 million has been set aside in the 2013/14 Estimates of Expenditure to enhance the Information and Communications Technology (ICT), regulatory environment of the country. The project, which gets underway this month, will be implemented by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, with funding support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). It is scheduled to end in...

A sum of $6.5 million has been allocated to the Enhancing Civil Society Participation in Local Government for Community Development Safety Project, which seeks to strengthen civil society’s participation in local governance.            It also seeks  to establish a co-ordinated local civil society and State response to crime and violence.            This is contained in the 2013/14 Estimates of Expenditure,...

A total of $159 million has been allocated to the Community Based Landslide Risk Management Project in the 2013/2014 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.             The project seeks to reduce the risk of natural disasters in vulnerable communities in Jamaica and provide an evidence based toolkit for vulnerability reduction throughout the Caribbean.             This will be...

The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) is to receive $35 million this fiscal year to commence the modernisation process of the agency. This is set out in the 2013/14 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The allocation will be used to purchase a standby generator; computer equipment and software; and television production equipment. Another $4.13 million has been...

Consultant with the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), Dr. Oscar Coto, says Jamaica has an opportunity to tap into international financing that can assist with its efforts at reducing the impacts of climate change. This, he said, can be accomplished through advancement of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Programme of Activities (PoA) as well as Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs). “If...

Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says the Government is determined to solve the country’s energy problem “once and for all”. “The time for procrastination is over and that decision is going to be happening now with the installation of the 360 megawatt plant,” Mr. Paulwell stated yesterday (April 4), as he addressed the opening of the...

The National Water Commission (NWC) is appealing to residents and business people in Negril to desist from purchasing water from illegal truck operators. NWC Vice President for Non Revenue Water and Energy Cost Reduction, Mark Blair, said that unauthorised persons are taking water from the NWC system and selling it for up to $10 per gallon. This, he said, is...