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The Rural Road Rehabilitation Project II has been allocated $830 million in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure. The project, which got underway in 2008, seeks to rehabilitate approximately 47 kilometres of roads in the parishes of Trelawny, Clarendon, and Manchester in order to facilitate socio-economic development and integration of the three parishes. The roads include the 16-kilometre stretch from Stettin...

Contingency funding of $550 million has been allocated for weather related risks in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure. To be used specifically for natural disasters and infrastructure rehabilitation, this allocation is in keeping with the Fiscal Responsibility Framework Regulations, contained in the Financial Administration and Audit Act (FAA Act). In the meantime, another contingency provision of $100 million has been...

A sum of $1.6 billion has been allocated in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives, towards the continuation of the Integrated Support to the Jamaica Social Protection Strategy project. The project, which commenced in November 2015, is being implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)....

Fishing communities across the island are to receive additional support in building resilience against climate change. This is through an allotment of $12.9 million to the Promoting Community-based Climate Resilience in the Fisheries Sector project in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries. As contained in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the allocation...

A total of $200 million will be spent this fiscal year to continue construction and improvement work, at the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Lathbury Barracks, at Up Park Camp. This is contained in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives. Anticipated targets for this fiscal year include continuing construction on the first and second three storey...

A total of $3 million has been allocated to the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Local Offender and Deported Persons Programme, to complete outstanding payment activities. As outlined in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the programme seeks to: reduce the rate of re-offending among local offenders and deportees; improve the rehabilitation and reintegration of deportees...

A total of $1.2 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of National Security, to purchase vital equipment needed for the maintenance of law and order. This is contained in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives. The Estimates were recently tabled by the Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw. Of the...

The Government has set aside $510 million in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives, to boost the operations of the Jamaica Defence Force. Of the total amount, $350 million will be given to the Coast Guard, to facilitate the refitting of offshore patrol vessels. Another $100 million will be allocated to the Air Wing, to...

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) operations are to be expanded in Montego Bay, St. James, and Portmore, St. Catherine, this fiscal year, with an allocation of $1.91 billion. The money has been allocated to the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, to support expanded investment in the sector. BPO, which involves subcontracting various business-related operations to...

The Government is to procure contraband detection machinery and equipment this fiscal year, as it moves to strengthen the island’s customs control and security. A sum of $2.58 billion has been allocated under the Fiscal Administration Modernisation Programme for the project, as outlined in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House. The overall objective of the programme is...

The Government is to complete the procurement of 200 goat embryos for assisted breeding this fiscal year, to improve the quality and efficiency of the small ruminant industry. A sum of $34.7 million has been allocated in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure to carry out this and other initiatives under the Diversification of the Caribbean Livestock through the Production of...

A total of 60 gravity drip irrigation systems are to be installed and commissioned this fiscal year, to improve agricultural outcomes in targeted communities. A sum of $110.4 million has been set aside in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure to carry out this and other activities under the Enhancing the Resilience of the Agricultural Sector and Coastal Areas project. The...