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A sum of $315 million has been set aside in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditures, currently before the House of Representatives, to undertake a number of developmental initiatives for the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). The bulk of the funds, $105 million, will make possible the acquisition of two fixed wing aircraft for the Jamaica Military Aviation School. An additional $37.4...

The Government’s efforts at effecting climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies this year, have been boosted by the provision of  $219 million in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure. The undertaking, which commenced in October 2010, aims to increase Jamaica’s resilience to natural hazards, while reducing the associated risks in vulnerable areas, thereby contributing to national development. Attendant activities...

Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna is encouraging all Jamaicans to participate and support the country’s first ever National Children’s Day, which will be celebrated on Friday, May 18. “I want to encourage all of you to not only turn on your headlights but to ensure that you wear the colour yellow for our children,” Ms. Hanna urged...

Youth and Culture Minister, Hon. Lisa Hanna, is calling for all Jamaicans to rally around the protection of the nation’s children. Noting the alarming number of cases of abuse, especially sexual abuse, she said that there can be no letting up of efforts. “We cannot afford to get tired of this fight. Each day we have to find the will,...

Approximately 240 Irish potato and onion farmers are to benefit from a sum of $250 million which will be on-lent through the National People’s Co-operative Bank of Jamaica Limited (NPCB) network. The sum is part of the $458 million allotment in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure to assist farmers under the Agricultural Support Project, being funded by the Caribbean Development...

The Input Supplies Project (ALBA Food Initiative) has been allotted $49 million in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project aims to improve production and productivity in the agricultural sector through the provision of critical inputs, such as high quality seeds and other planting material, fertilizer, farm tools and small machinery. It is being...

The sugar industry should be significantly enhanced with a $1.9 billion allocation for this sector in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. Of the sum, $1.8 billion will go towards carrying out the activities of the Sugar Transformation Unit, which include compensation of employees, grants and contributions, and rental of property, machinery and equipment; while...

The Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded Focal Point Support Project is slated to receive $783,000 to carry out a number of activities this fiscal year. Being implemented by the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, the project, which got underway in January, is intended to assist in strengthening the work of the Operational Focal Points office. The aim is...

In a continued bid to promote private sector productive investment and job creation in Jamaica, the government has set aside $1.04 million for the Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment in Jamaica. This is set out in the 2012/2013 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. With funding support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the project aims to...

A sum of $23.8 million has been allocated in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, to further fund efforts by the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change to enhance the resilience of the local agricultural sector and the island’s coastal areas to the impact of weather related elements. The programme, which commenced in January, aims to increase sectoral resilience...

A sum of $25 million is to be used this fiscal year to upgrade and refurbish sporting facilities at the Independence Park Limited in Kingston. The project is being implemented by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), under the Sports portfolio. As contained in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the allocation will cover:...

A total of $307 million has been set aside in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure for an HIV prevalence reduction project.     The objectives of the project include: increasing safer sex practices and improving attitudes and behaviours among vulnerable high risk groups; reducing HIV transmission by delaying sexual initiation, promoting abstinence and increasing condom use among sexually active adolescents; finalising and...