Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips has expressed confidence that the growth which the country has had for three consecutive quarters, will continue. Opening the 2014/15 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Thursday,April 17, he noted that during the July to September 2013 quarter, the economy recorded modest growth of 0.5 per cent following a period of economic contraction, which began...

The country’s Net International Reserves (NIR), as at the end of March 2014 is now at US$1.3 billion, putting the country in a better position to withstand external shocks. ​Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips made the disclosure,as he opened the 2014/15 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Thursday, April 17, noting that the NIR have grown over 40 per cent. The NIR represents contingency...

More than $8 billion or approximately 23 per cent of the Capital Budget has been reserved for infrastructural works to be carried out through the Ministry of Transport,Works and Housing, during this fiscal year. ​The announcement was made by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, as he opened the 2014/15 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on April 17. ​Among the major projects to be undertaken is the $4 billion Major Infrastructural...

​As of next month, the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) will be providing a voucher for technical assistance to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which qualify. Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips explained that this is an electronic voucher issued by financial institutions and redeemed by SMEs at Business Development Organisations (BDOs). ​The vouchers will assist these enterprises with attaining capacity development services with...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) will continue work this year to support implementation of the country’s  Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), with an $8.38 million allocation, earmarked in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, currently being reviewed by Parliament’s Standing Financing Committee. The undertaking aims to assist the Government by increasing the effectiveness of development planning towards better monitoring and planning...

A sum of $20 million will be spent this fiscal year to repair two kilometres of roadway along the access road to the Riverton City Landfill in St. Andrew. This is to improve utilisation of the landfill, and reduce down-time and operating costs for garbage trucks. The money has been provided in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, currently being reviewed...

A project, which aims to provide Jamaicans with increased access to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services, has received an allotment of $27 million in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, currently being reviewed by Parliament’s Standing Finance Committee. The Technology to Empower Individuals and Communities for Development Project also aims to provide ICT and other training programmes to promote personal,...

A sum of $25 million has been set aside in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure for the Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative. The project seeks to contribute to the implementation of Montego Bay’s urban sustainability action plan, in which the general goal is to address the main environmental, urban and fiscal issues affecting the long term sustainability of the city....

A total of $24.9 million has been allocated to the Justice, Security, Accountability, and Transparency (JSAT) Project in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, currently being reviewed by Parliament’s Standing Finance Committee. The project seeks to improve the standard of living and quality of life of Jamaican citizens by strengthening governance and oversight, with particular regard to the functioning of the...