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The Water Resources Authority (WRA) and the University of the West Indies (UWI), this morning (April 8), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve knowledge of water resources in the island, and enhance staff and institutional capacity in the water and education sectors. This will be done through research and development in water resources planning, management, and development. Speaking...

The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) is examining legislation and guidelines to see how it can bring private water truck operators under its remit. The move comes as the public, local authorities and official bodies continue to raise concern about the safety and quality of drinking water being distributed by these operators. "The (OUR) is not unmindful to the concerns...

The Water Programme for Environment Sustainability Project (WPA) has received an allocation of $5.5 million in the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditures now before the House of Representatives. This project was established to upgrade the Water Resources Master Plan and assess the potential for water related developments and the resource capacity to meet present and future demands. The scope of the...

The National Land Agency (NLA) continues to justify its position of being accorded executive agency status as part of the Government's Public Sector Modernisation Programme. For the last two consecutive financial years, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010, the NLA achieved 98 per cent of its performance targets, improving service delivery, while at the same time reducing the turnaround times for its core...

The Government has allocated $321 million for construction and renovation of three juvenile correctional institutions, in line with a commitment given by Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding, to improve the facilities in which children in state custody are housed. The figure is outlined in the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled by the Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon....

The Ministry of Water and Housing estimates that it will achieve some $398.8 million in capital recoveries for the 2010/2011 fiscal year under the Housing Fund. As outlined in the Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives, some $333.8 million is to come from the sale of scheme units/lots; $42.9 million from the sale of 12 parcels of...

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) has explained that the current state of some of its buses on the roads is primarily due to the drought conditions, and the consequent water restrictions. In a release on the issue over the weekend, the JUTC's Corporate Communications Manager, Reginald Allen, stated: "In response to queries about the outward state of some Jamaica...

Just over $26.4 million has been earmarked for the rehabilitation and expansion of water supply and distribution systems in Port Antonio, as outlined in the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House. The programme, the Port Antonio Water Sewerage and Drainage Project, which is being executed by the National Water Commission (NWC), aims to improve the existing drainage system...

A total of $13.2 million has been allocated to the Capacity Building for Sustainable Land Management project in the 2010/11Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project aims to enhance effective sustainable land management by building capacities for sustainable land management in appropriate government and civil society institutions and user groups. It also seeks to mainstream sustainable...

The Government has set aside more than $558 million in the Estimates of Expenditure for 2010/11, to be spent on housing schemes, inclusive of the acquisition of land, special projects, joint ventures, and planning and development. A total of $186.1 million is to go toward the acquisition of 30 parcels of land across the island for new developments and the...

The Government's effort to provide residents throughout the Kingston metropolitan region with reliable water supply has been bolstered with a $1.5 billion allocation in the 2010/11 Estimates and Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The programme, the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA) Water Supply Project, is expected to provide an improved water supply system to the KMA (which includes Greater...

The National Water Commission (NWC) is to receive $250 million in the upcoming fiscal year to meet engineering and project management costs, to complete 18 ongoing water supply schemes, and commence two new water supply schemes in major rural areas. This is outlined in the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The works include (in St....