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The House of Representatives has approved the withdrawal of US$12 million from the Capital Development Fund (CDF) to settle Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited’s debt obligations to Glencore Limited. Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, explained that this represents quarterly payments due on outstanding debts in the 2015/16 financial year. Speaking in the House on February 24,...

The Government has allocated $70.2 million in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, for the Youth Development Programme. The Estimates were tabled in the House of Representatives on February 19 by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips. One of the main objectives of the programme is to facilitate the transition of unattached youth to adulthood and the...

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) will continue its implementation of the Jamaica Integrated Community Development Project with a further allotment of $250 million in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project seeks to enhance access to basic urban infrastructure and services and to contribute towards increased community safety in selected economically vulnerable and...

Key capacity building initiatives are to be carried out under the Rural Economic Development Initiative this year, with an allocation of $246.7 million in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure. The project aims to improve market access for micro and small-scale rural agricultural producers, and tourism product and service providers. It is being implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF),...

A total of $179 million has been allotted to the Ministry of Education to continue work under the Education Partnership for Improved Literacy Outcomes project. The sum, which is included in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, will go towards improving the reading fluency skills of grades one to three students in targeted primary schools....

A sum of $69 million will be spent by the Government this year, to construct two early childhood institutions in the parishes of St. Thomas and Kingston and St. Andrew. Details of the allocation are outlined in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project, which is being funded by the Chinese Government, will commence...

Several infrastructural projects, as well as human development activities, are slated to be undertaken this year, under the Poverty Reduction Programme IV, with an allotment of $100 million. The funds have been provided in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project aims to empower residents of volatile communities to achieve their fullest potential and...

The Government has set aside a total of $115 million to the Justice, Security, Accountability, and Transparency (JSAT) Project in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure. 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 justice system. Of the sum, $72...

The Government has allocated a total of $203 million for the Justice Undertakings for Social Transformation (JUST) programme in the Ministry of Justice. As outlined in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the project seeks to: improve service delivery and management capacity of justice sector institutions; improve the capacity of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)...

The Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) III is set to receive a cash injection of $145 million to carry out its work during the new fiscal year. As outlined in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives on February 19, the money will go towards enhancing citizen security and justice in targeted communities, through the...

A total of $76.5 million is to be spent this year on upgrading the sanitary facilities of several schools across the island. The money has been provided in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project aims to replace pit latrines with flush toilets in order to reduce the contamination of underground water and reduce...

A sum of $7 million has been allotted to the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Local Offenders and Deported Persons Programme in the Ministry of National Security. Objectives of the programme, which is being financed by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, are: to reduce the rate of reoffending amongst local offenders and deportees; to improve the rehabilitation and reintegration of...