Jamaica’s capacity to mitigate the effects of climate change is expected to be enhanced with the provision of US$4 million in grant funding under the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience. This is an initiative aimed at increasing resilience to climate change effects at the national and regional levels. Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill made...

Work has commenced on the second component of the Jamaica Water Supply Improvement Project , Category ‘B’, all sections of which will be completed, on target and within budget, by February 2015. Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Hon. Robert Pickersgill made the announcement during his contribution to the 2014 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on...

The National Water Commission (NWC) is to spend $2 billion (US$18.4 million) to implement the 26 Facilities Project as part of the Kingston Metropolitan Area Water Supply Improvement Programme. The project is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and seeks to provide improved water supply to residents, in keeping with the Commission’s targets and the nation’s Vision 2030 goals....

All Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are now required to file General Consumption Tax (GCT) on government purchases, effective June 1, 2014. This change forms part of the government’s ongoing tax reform programme and is a critical aspect of the country’s deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Speaking at a JIS Think Tank held on Monday, June 2,...

The official opening of the Soe Htwe Medicare centre in Montego Bay, St. James on Sunday, June 1, brings to three, the number of private healthcare facilities to come on stream in the tourist resort town in as many weeks. The two storey medical facility consisting of medical offices, and a pharmacy, represents a US$2 million outlay from the Burmese...

Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says future negotiations between the Government and public sector health workers must be done against the background of Jamaica’s obligations to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Addressing delegates at the recent annual general meeting of the Public Health Nurses Special Interest Group held at the Jewel Resort, Runaway Bay, St. Ann, Dr. Ferguson said Jamaica...

Fourteen Caribbean Tourism Ministers and their senior technocrats have been invited by the Government of Spain to participate in a one-week seminar in that country’s capital, Madrid. Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica, Her Excellency Celsa Nuño, says the seminar will expose participants to, among other things, the importance of renewable energy in sustaining and advancing the tourism sector. She made the...