The Government will spend approximately $30 million to renovate infant schools and create infant departments in primary schools during the 2018/19 fiscal year. Details of the projects, to be spearheaded by the National Education Trust (NET), are outlined in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure, which were tabled in the House of Representatives on Thursday (February 15). NET, which falls under...

The Government will continue to upgrade health facilities to reduce neonatal deaths with a $759-million allocation in the 2018/2019 Budget, now before the House of Representatives. Under the Programme for Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality (PROMAC), designs will be completed for 11 High Dependency Units (HDUs) at six hospitals, as well as procurement of equipment for the HDUs. Details...

The Government is to spend $700 million to increase learning opportunities to students by providing them with more access to tablet computers and other information and communications technology (ICT)-based equipment, under the e-Learning Project. The students will also receive support from teachers trained in the effective integration of such technology, which will be incorporated into the teaching and learning process....

The Government has allocated $1.4 million for a project to advance Jamaican biodiversity data products and information services. The engagement, which is being implemented by the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) with funding from the European Union (EU), aims to strengthen the capacity of the Natural History Museum of Jamaica (NHMJ) and its local project partners as national biodiversity information facilities....

A sum of $19.3 million has been allocated to establish the Santa Cruz Outreach Centre to deliver the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) programmes in the southwest section of the island. This is outlined in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The establishment of the centre is also expected to expand the Foundation’s activities...

The Government is to spend $765 million to enhance Jamaica’s energy efficiency (EE) and energy conservation (EC) potential, through the design and implementation of energy cost-saving measures in the public sector. The money has been set aside in the 2018/2019 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. It will be used to develop national guidelines for the disposal...

Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says the Government will continue to focus on enforcing the rule of law, and attaining timely outcomes during the 2018/19 financial year. “That is one the main (areas of) focus for the fiscal year… that we address some of the problems we are having in the justice system. Everyone appreciates that the justice system plays...

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, says the Sexual Harassment Bill is to be tabled this year. The Bill seeks to protect all women and men from unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and crude sexual behaviours that affect quality of life by creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. The Governor-General made the announcement while...

The Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, will be intensifying energy savings and conservation measures under the Energy Management and Efficiency Programme (EMEP). Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, made the disclosure as he delivered the Throne Speech to open the 2018/19 parliamentary period in Gordon House on February 15. EMEP is...