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The Government, in an effort to reduce schools’ dependency on the importation of fossil fuels to create energy, will spend approximately $120 million on the implementation of projects in schools under the Solar Systems Project. Details have been outlined in the 2018/2019 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives on February 15. Statistics have shown that an estimated...

The Government has allocated a sum of $466 million to construct new classrooms for secondary schools and ramps for disabled students. Details are outlined in the 2018/2019 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives on February 15. The new classrooms will be constructed under the Education Transformation Programme (ETP) with the objective of alleviating the shift system and...

Ninety-seven primary schools are to benefit from improved sewerage systems under a Sanitary Block Project, which will be funded by the Government in the 2018/2019 fiscal year, at a cost of $30 million. The project will be implemented by the National Education Trust Limited (NET), as outlined in the 2018/2019 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives on...

Work is expected to commence on irrigation systems in St. Catherine and Clarendon this year under a $100-million infrastructure rehabilitation project. The funds have been provided by the Government in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives. The project, which is being implemented by the National Irrigation Commission, aims to reduce water losses and...

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...

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, says the agriculture sector has recorded notable achievements despite inclement weather last year. He said these successes include continued self-sufficiency in eggs, poultry, pork and tubers; 88 per cent self-sufficiency in table Irish potato; and growth in non-traditional exports such as yam, ackee and sweet potato. The Governor-General was delivering the...

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...

The Government has allocated approximately $80 million to renovate the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information’s head office at National Heroes Circle and its Caenwood Centre facilities on Arnold Road in Kingston during the 2018/19 fiscal year Details are provided in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. Work at the National Heroes Circle complex will...