The Public Sector Transformation Programme will be further boosted during the upcoming fiscal year, through a $1.32 billion allotment in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The programme, jointly funded by the Government of Jamaica, World Bank, and United Kingdom Department for International Development, aims to strengthen public resource management and support State institutions in...

The Government will, this year, commence work in earnest to strengthen the Financial Services Commission’s (FSC’s) operational and technological capacity to undertake risk-based supervision across industries it supervises. A sum of $13.4 million is earmarked for this undertaking in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, which were tabled in the House of Representatives on February 14. The sectors that will be...

The Government has budgeted $1 billion to acquire motor vehicles and motorcycles for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in the 2019/2020 fiscal year. The project aims to improve the mobility of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and falls under the Ministry of National Security. It is being funded from the Consolidated Fund. Details are provided in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure,...

Work to expand the Harbour View, St. Andrew to Yallahs, St. Thomas roadway to four lanes, is to begin this fiscal year under the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project. A sum of $8.42 billion has been set aside in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure to undertake, among other activities, the reconstruction of this 17.4-kilometre stretch of road and achieve seven...

The Government has allocated $35.872 million to a project to increase Jamaica Post’s ability to control and improve mail processing and handling. This is outlined in the 2019/2020 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology (MSET), through funding by the Universal Postal Union. Anticipated targets...

The Government will amend a number of climate and environment-related legislation in the 2019/20 fiscal year in an effort to strengthen the regulatory framework governing the management and sustainable use of Jamaica’s biological and natural resources. This was disclosed by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, who delivered the Throne Speech at the ceremonial opening of Parliament...

The Government will further refine draft regulations for the National Identification and Registration Act, which seeks to establish a reliable identification system for Jamaicans. This will be done through ongoing consultations involving State entities, civil society groups, and the private sector. This was stated by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, who delivered the 2019/2020 Throne Speech...

The Government has targeted three major hospitals for service upgrades during the 2019/20 financial year. These are Spanish Town, St. Catherine; May Pen, Clarendon; and St. Ann’s Bay in St. Ann. Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, said that the upgrades are in keeping with population expansion and the increased need for specialist medical services. He was...