Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced a 30 per cent cut in renewal fees for public passenger vehicles (PPVs). He said that the support, which will last for one year, will benefit route taxi, hackney carriage, rural stage carriage and contract carriers. The Prime Minister, who was making his contribution to the 2023/2024 Budget Debate in the...

The National Commission for Violence Prevention is now developing a 10-year evidence-based National Action Plan, with recommendations for legislative changes and institutional building. The Plan will also include governance and best practices around a full national mobilisation to control and reduce violence as a feature of the society. Making his budget presentation in the House of Representatives on March 16,...

Effective June 1, 2023 the national minimum wage will increase from $9,000 to $13,000 per 40 hour work week. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, made the announcement during his contribution to the 2023/24 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Thursday (March 16). He said that the new rate represents a 44 per cent increase on the...

Effective April 1, Jamaicans will no longer be required to pay tuition or administrative fees for HEART-NSTA Trust programmes up to level four (associate degree), says Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.   “This will allow for access to vocational training for all Jamaicans, regardless of economic status. This will be a game changer for poor, underserved youth, who see...

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) have been tasked with establishing special security operations around key infrastructure projects. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said the aim is to ensure that major projects which will be undertaken are not hijacked by criminals seeking to illicitly benefit from public resources through extortion or...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, will make his contribution to the 2023/24 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Thursday (March 16). He is expected to highlight accomplishments and speak on matters relating to housing, water, the environment, national security, among other national imperatives. The Prime Minister’s presentation comes against the background of Jamaica’s full recovery from...

Education received the largest share of the 2023/24 Budget for recurrent programmes outside of debt payments and compensation of employees. A sum of $142.9 billion is earmarked for the sector in the upcoming fiscal year, representing approximately 22 per cent of the $657.2 billion for non-debt recurrent expenditure. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke,...