The Government has allocated $850 million to a project to strengthen the enabling environment for private sector competitiveness, which will help the country unleash productivity and growth. This will be achieved by enhancing competition in the business environment, facilitating large-scale private investments, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) capabilities and finance, essential to unleash private sector productivity upgrading and job...

A sum of $20 million has been allocated in the 2017-18 budget for a project to enhance the resilience of the agricultural sector and coastal areas. As provided for in the Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the project aims to protect livelihood and food security in vulnerable communities by improving land and water management for the...

The Department of Correctional Services has received $202 million to purchase vehicles and improve adult institutions in the next fiscal year. Of the figure, $180 million will go towards renovation and rehabilitation at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre in Kingston, while the remainder will be used to purchase vehicles for the Department. This is outlined in the 2017-18 Estimates...

The Government has allocated $17 million for the completion of a project to facilitate increased production and more diversified exports of agricultural and agro-processed products to the European Union market. The allocation to the European Development Fund (EDF) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Capacity Building Project is included in the 2017-18 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives. For...

The Government is to strengthen the policy, legislative and institutional framework that guides the management and treatment of involuntary returned migrants (deportees) to the island. Some $13.8 million has been set aside in the 2017-18 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, for the activities under the Reintegration and Rehabilitation of Involuntary Returned Migrants in Jamaica. To be...

The Government will spend $19.2 million to improve the levels of innovation by building and strengthening capacities in the areas of Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I). Funding for this initiative is being provided by the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States. The money has been set aside in the 2017-18 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives....

A sum of $200 million has been allocated to the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) to continue the implementation of a project to improve the quality and use of climate- related data and information for effective planning and action at the local and national levels. The allocation to the PPCR II – Improving Climate Data and Information Management project is...

The Government has set aside $140.9 million to strengthen governance and oversight structures in the justice system under the Justice, Security, Accountability, and Transparency (JSAT) Project. This is outlined in the 2017-18 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives. The money will go towards rehabilitating and equipping classrooms and dormitories at the National Police College of Jamaica; start...