An additional $1.8 billion is being provided by the Government, this year, to continue implementation of the Sugar Transformation Project. This allocation is contained in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The project, being spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, has three major components. These are: strengthening the sugar cane sector’s commercial competitiveness;...

Just over $300 million is budgeted to be spent this year on the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Agricultural Competitiveness Programme. The project aims to increase competitiveness in the agriculture sector by facilitating small and medium farmers’ access to markets; ensuring the production of safe and high quality food and products; and stimulating public-private investment in agribusiness value chain development....

Effective October this year, approximately 330,000 beneficiaries of the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) are expected to receive an additional 15 per cent increase in payments. These funds are being made available through an allotment of $5.3 billion to the Social Protection Project II in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. This...

A total of $1.7 billion will be spent by the Government to rehabilitate 26 well sources, pumping stations, and reservoirs across the island. This forms part of the programmes and projects planned for the new fiscal year to provide potable water to households. This was disclosed by Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, while delivering the Throne...

The Government will, this fiscal year spend $1.7 billion to upgrade infrastructure such as water, sewer, and roads, in the rural communities of St. Ann and St. Elizabeth, under the Jamaica Economical Housing Project. This is outlined in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, which was tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. the Hon....

The Linstead to Moneague leg of the North-South Highway should be open to the public by August. This was disclosed by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen as he delivered the Throne Speech at the 2014/15 State Opening of Parliament in Gordon House today (April 3). He informed that work on the other two sections (Caymanas to...

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick says the renewal of telecoms and spectrum licences to the country’s two major telecommunications providers is expected to result in better Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services. The Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, yesterday issued the licences, which is expected to bring in revenues of $12 billion. Delivering the 2014/15...

The Government will be acquiring two Linear Accelerators (LINAC) machines which will assist with the delivery of improved cancer care in the island. This was announced by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, when he delivered the Throne Speech  at the State opening of Parliament for the 2014/15 Fiscal Year, at Gordon House, today (April 3). Linear...