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Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM), Hon. Phillip Paulwell, said the government intends to keep its promise to remove the General Consumption Tax (GCT) on electricity. The move, he said, will be undertaken within the framework of a review of taxation in the country. Speaking at a recent press briefing at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica’s (PCJ) auditorium...

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says the government is committed to revitalising the local bauxite/alumina industry, which has been ailing for some time. “This sector is very important to us as a nation, not only for the revenue that it can bring, but in light of the fact that so many Jamaican communities depend on...

The key sectors to be targeted for the generation of significant growth of the Jamaican economy are: energy; tourism; information and communications technology (ICT); micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME); divestment of public assets through the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE); the revitalization of foreign direct investment inflows, improved business facilitation and the revamping the incentives regime. This was stated by...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, said the Government is moving “post haste” to remove the bureaucratic constraints to business and entrepreneurship so that the economy can grow. “Part of our focus is to remove all stumbling blocks and hurdles that year in and year out, continue to frustrate businesses.  This Ministry aims to do certain things...

The Government is looking to partner with churches and the private sector as it seeks to improve access to and quality of education. Education Minister, Hon. Ronald Thwaites, in announcing the move on Friday (January 20), said the state will never be able to find the required capital to provide all the spaces and address the shortcomings in the system,...

Education Minister, Hon. Ronald Thwaites, is urging training colleges to ensure that teachers entering the classroom are qualified to identify learning deficiencies at the earliest stage of the education system. He said research by the Ministry is showing that up to 20 per cent of the nation’s children have slight to severe learning deficiencies and there is need for these...

Minister of State for Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Ian Hayles, is encouraging more young people to get involved in agriculture, stating that this is critical for the sustainability of the sector. “Agriculture is important to the development of any nation, therefore it is important that you get involved and get involved now,” he told students of the Maggotty High School...

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM), Hon. Phillip Paulwell, has announced plans to establish a National Energy Council (NEC), to work with other stakeholders to implement the recently drafted National Energy Policy. "I intend to invite the Opposition Spokesperson on Energy to sit with me, as the leadership of that Council,” Mr. Paulwell said at Thursday’s (January 19)...

An appropriate code of conduct for banking services in Jamaica should address issues that restrict the choice of consumers. This was proposed by Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, in an address at the recently held stakeholders’ consultation on the draft code at the Courtleigh Hotel, New Kingston. According to the Minister, the code should “address the...

Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon Lisa Hanna, says that the Government will be offering skills training in key areas for youths, through partnerships with its agencies. The Minister was speaking to Lower and Upper Sixth Form students at Kingston College, North Street, Kingston, during a visit on Thursday (January 19). It was part of the Ministry’s programme to get...

The St. Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation has launched a website (www.visitstelizabeth.com.jm), to promote tourism in the parish, and expose other developmental activities to targeted audiences. The website is being financed from a grant of $4.9 million provided by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), and a $2.58 million contribution from the community. It was launched on Wednesday (January 18). Speaking at...

The refurbishing of the Constant Spring Water Treatment Plant, Stony Hill, under the Jamaica Water Supply Improvement Project (JWSIP), is 95 per cent complete. The project, which is being undertaken at a cost of US$10 million, includes the construction of new basins and reagents, additional systems for pre-treatment and refurbishing intakes such as values, flow metres. It is expected to...