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Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, has announced a $45 million crop production programme as part of the Government’s drought mitigation initiative for the sector. The programme, he said, will provide for the establishment of 645 hectares of select crops in 13 parishes to counter any shortfall in cash crops resulting from the severe dry conditions affecting the...

Tourism and Entertainment Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, has commended the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) for its work in maintaining Jamaica’s tourism product at the highest international standard. Speaking at the entity’s staff awards luncheon, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, on February 12, under the theme: ‘Celebration of Service in Tourism’, Dr. McNeill underscored the importance of...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says that the effort by the Government to implement law to ban smoking in public places, is aimed at protecting the health of citizens. Dr. Ferguson, who was addressing a meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Constant Spring held yesterday (February 12) at the Mayfair Hotel in St. Andrew, said the matter is...

The first Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for fiscal year 2012/2013 was approved by the House of Representatives, yesterday (February 12). The estimates were tabled in the House by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, on February 5. For the fiscal year, the budget has been revised downwards from $612.4 billion to $602 billion, a reduction of...

The Government is seeking to raise an additional $15.9 billion in revenue over the 2013/2014 fiscal year. The tax package was announced by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips yesterday (February 12), during the debate on the first Supplementary Estimates for the fiscal year, in the House of Representatives. Dr. Phillips noted that the tax package...

Six dental surgeons from Cuba will be available to work at the primary health care level, when they arrive in the island later this year. This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, during an interview with JIS News, following a planning and evaluation meeting of the Oral Health Services Unit, at the Alhambra Inn, in Kingston...

The Westmoreland Parish Council has been trucking water to many areas that have been affected by the severe drought, Disaster Preparedness Co-ordinator for the parish, Rev. Hilma Tate, told JIS News. “The Council has been ensuring that communities hardest hit by the drought are getting some water as often as is possible, and right now requests for additional funds have...

The Ministry of Health is exploring the possibility of acquiring a mobile unit, as part of efforts to improve the delivery of healthcare across the island, with particular emphasis on oral health. Persons who may not be able to visit the various health facilities in close proximity to them, will be targeted. This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Hon....

The Government is pursuing investment projects aimed at improving incomes and employment opportunities across several sectors. Speaking during a broadcast to the nation on February 11, Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips said among the initiatives is the major expansion of the port facilities to exploit the country’s geographic advantage in the post-PANAMAX context. “This expansion...

The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) will, over the next 12 months, embark on the pilot phase of their latest initiative, the non-commercial Mobile Money for Microfinance Project, dubbed M3. The venture, which was launched at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, on February 11, seeks to increase access to and security of financial service transactions and deliveries, particularly to...

The address to the nation by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller and Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips will be re-broadcast on the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ) at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12. The address was first broadcast on all local stations on Monday, February...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller says the death of Neville ‘Teddy’ McCook, ‘a man who made an outstanding contribution to sports administration in Jamaica’ has brought shock and sadness to all who knew him. “'Teddy', as he was affectionately called was a virtual icon in the track and field fraternity locally, regionally and internationally. He spent almost...