Beginning April 1, commuters who use a Smartercard to pay their fares on the State-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses will benefit from a 50 per cent reduction in fares. Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon. Daryl Vaz, made the disclosure in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (January 30). He said that a Cabinet note is...

Locally made screen productions are now able to benefit from financial support under a new programme dubbed the Jamaica Screen Development Initiative (JSDI). The major project was launched by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, at the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday (January 31). It is being made possible through a budgetary allocation of $1 billion by...

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (January 30) approved the Fourth Supplementary Estimates for the fiscal year 2023/24, which reflects total government expenditure of $1.092 trillion. The Estimates proposes a total expenditure of approximately $1.092 trillion, a reduction of $2.5 billion on the approved Budget, following the submission and approval of the Third Supplementary Estimates in September 2023. In his...

The Sugar Company of Jamaica Holdings (SCJH) has been tasked with accelerating the pace of reallocating lands formerly used for sugar-cane cultivation into alternative agricultural endeavours. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, made the announcement during a press briefing at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston on Wednesday (January 31). “I must commend the SCJH, because we have...

The Agricultural Produce (Amendment) Act, which will facilitate the imposition of harsher penalties for praedial larceny, has been gazetted and is now in effect. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, made the disclosure during a press briefing at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston on Wednesday (January 31). The maximum fine for breaches under the law has moved...

Arrangements are in place to allow public-sector workers who are National Housing Trust (NHT) mortgagors to receive contribution refunds in cash during the current application period. Assistant General Manager for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Dwayne Berbick, says refunds would previously have been credited to individuals’ mortgage accounts. “If the mortgagors prefer not to take it as cash in hand...

Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon Daryl Vaz, says the Falmouth Transportation Centre in Trelawny is an example of an organised facility that could serve as a template for other towns across Jamaica. Speaking to reporters, local officials, and other stakeholders following a tour of the Centre on January 26, Minister Vaz said that the people of Jamaica...