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A sum of $35 million has been provided in the 2015/16 Budget for the continued installation of flood lights and other related works at Sabina Park. The project seeks to improve Jamaica’s attraction as a destination for sports tourism and towards the continued development of cricket in Jamaica, in particular at the youth and professional levels. It is being implemented...

The city of Montego Bay in St. James, will continue to benefit from the interventions of the Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative, for which a further $15 million has been allotted in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure. The project seeks to contribute to the implementation of Montego Bay’s urban sustainability Action Plan, in which the general goal is to address...

Key disaster mitigation activities will continue this year under the Community-Based Landslide Risk Reduction project, following a further allotment of $127.9 million. The funds have been provided for in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. Being implemented by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the project seeks to reduce the risk of...

Repairs to the roadway leading to the Riverton City Landfill, will continue in the new fiscal year, with an allotment of $30 million in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure. The project seeks to improve the utilisation of the Riverton Landfill and reduce the down-time and operating costs of garbage trucks. Rehabilitation of the two kilometres of roadway will include: preparation...

Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon Peter Phillips says negotiations with public sector workers are proceeding “in good faith.” Speaking in an interview with JIS News on Wednesday February 25, the Finance Minister said most of the discussions so far have been to clarify issues. “The section of the Ministry being led by Minister Horace Dalley, responsible for...

The Government has budgeted $122.1 million for construction and improvement works under the Ministry of Justice. This is outlined in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. Of the sum, $72.1 million will go towards the construction and improvement of courthouses. This money will be used to complete all works on Public Buildings North (Justice Square...

A total of $14 million has been set aside in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives, to effect the National Quick Start Programme Trust Fund Project, in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change. The project, formerly known as the Globally Harmonized System of the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, is being implemented...

The House of Representatives has approved the withdrawal of US$12 million from the Capital Development Fund (CDF) to settle Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited’s debt obligations to Glencore Limited. Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, explained that this represents quarterly payments due on outstanding debts in the 2015/16 financial year. Speaking in the House on February 24,...

The Government has allocated $70.2 million in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, for the Youth Development Programme. The Estimates were tabled in the House of Representatives on February 19 by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips. One of the main objectives of the programme is to facilitate the transition of unattached youth to adulthood and the...

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) will continue its implementation of the Jamaica Integrated Community Development Project with a further allotment of $250 million in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project seeks to enhance access to basic urban infrastructure and services and to contribute towards increased community safety in selected economically vulnerable and...

Key capacity building initiatives are to be carried out under the Rural Economic Development Initiative this year, with an allocation of $246.7 million in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure. The project aims to improve market access for micro and small-scale rural agricultural producers, and tourism product and service providers. It is being implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF),...

A total of $179 million has been allotted to the Ministry of Education to continue work under the Education Partnership for Improved Literacy Outcomes project. The sum, which is included in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, will go towards improving the reading fluency skills of grades one to three students in targeted primary schools....