An additional $20.5 million is earmarked to continue work in the new fiscal year by the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, to develop a comprehensive Bush Fire Warning Index and Management System. The allocation is contained in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project, which commenced in April 2017 and is being financed by the...

Economic growth is projected in the range of 1.5 to 2.9 per cent over the next four fiscal years. This is according to the Government’s 2019/20 Fiscal Policy Paper, which was tabled in the House of Representatives on February 14, by Finance and Public Service Minister, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke. The document indicates that growth of 1.5 per cent...

A sum of $1.2 billion has been provided to continue work on several components of the Public Sector Transformation Implementation Project in the upcoming fiscal year. The allocation is set aside in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The six-year project, which started in January 2018, is targeting the modernisation of interventions in three prioritized...

The Government is to commence 17 infrastructure projects in targeted communities during the upcoming fiscal year under the Poverty Reduction Programme IV. These include construction, expansion and rehabilitation of police stations, schools, health and community centres. A sum of $558.8 million has been provided in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, for the undertaking. Being...

The Government will be spending $1 billion to assist with the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The funds, which have been allotted in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, will facilitate increased access to financing for MSMEs under two projects being undertaken by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ). These are the Credit Enhancement Programme, for which a...

More than 2,000 young persons are to benefit from training opportunities under the Youth Employment in Digital and Animation Industries Project in the upcoming fiscal year. The Government has set aside $908.2 million in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure to undertake several training exercises, among other activities. It is intended that 1,850 youth will benefit from instruction in the digitisation...

Activities under the Palisadoes Shore and Road Project will continue in the new fiscal year with another allotment of $5 million. As outlined in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the money will go towards the continued monitoring of mangroves by the University of the West Indies (UWI). Being implemented by the Ministry of Economic...

A sum of $10 million has been budgeted by the Government to strengthen the policy, legislative and institutional framework that guides the management and treatment of involuntary returned migrants to the island. The money has been allocated in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. It will go towards preparing a framework and protocol for tracking...

Work to construct the Montego Bay perimeter road (bypass) will commence in the 2019/2020 fiscal year with a $500-million allocation. The sum is set aside in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project aims to create a safe and reliable alternative route for motorists travelling within and across Montego Bay, resulting in reduced traffic...