The Government has budgeted $23 million to support the development of a payment for ecosystems services (PES) scheme, which is expected to improve the provision of critical ecosystem services in the Hope and Yallahs River watersheds. This is outlined in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives recently. The specific objectives of the programme include decreasing...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will be spending $60.2 million in the new fiscal year on the restoration and enhanced management of the Negril Great Morass. The funds will be used to complete a knowledge, attitude practices, and behaviour survey; conclude hydrological assessment and land use survey; commence an ecological assessment; develop and implement a public education programme;...

A total of $15.5 million has been allocated in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure to strengthen the capacity of Jamaica’s National Designated Authority (NDA), under the Green Climate Readiness Support Project. The money will go towards the establishment of an NDA Toolkit and completing the country programme strategy and regional scoping study. It will also be used to host a...

Approximately 120 farmers in the Yallahs and Hope River watershed areas of the Blue Mountains will be trained in land husbandry best practices in the upcoming fiscal year. A sum of $119 million has been set aside in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure to carry out this and other tasks under the Integrated Management of the Yallahs/Hope River Watershed Area...

The Rural Water Supply Limited will be undertaking several projects in the new fiscal year under a $795.3-million infrastructure rehabilitation initiative. The funds, provided in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, will be used to upgrade water supplies in several parishes. Works include rehabilitation of catchment tanks in Trelawny, St. Ann and Manchester; as well...

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...

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...

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...

The establishment of United Nations (UN) House in Jamaica, which began in 2017, is expected to be completed by March 2020. This follows an additional allotment of $150 million for the project in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The money will go towards renovation works on Block 11 at 14-16 Port Royal Street in...