The almost $200-million expansion of Best Dressed Chicken’s Cumberland Hatchery in Portmore is being hailed by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., as a major boost for the agriculture sector. The expansion increases the hatchery’s capacity by 70 per cent, allowing the company to better meet the demands of the local market and, particularly, small poultry farmers,...

The Government has allocated $834.939 million for research and development, which is $47.207 million or six per cent more than the 2022/2023 allocation. “While we are not yet at a target of 1.5 per cent of our gross domestic product (GDP) being allocated to research and development, implementing the objectives of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy will put us...

The Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology (MSET) is aiming to have the Petroleum (Downstream Activities) Act and its Regulations in effect by the end of this financial year. This would incorporate Petroleum Codes that had been developed and approved by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) Standards Council through a consultative process marshalled by a consultant engaged under the...

The Government will be undertaking a number of projects, valued billions of dollars, to improve access to water in Portland. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, who outlined details of the projects during Wednesday’s (May 10) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, said these engagements are progressing apace. Senator...

Jamaica has commenced discussions with the European Union (EU) to identify bankable national investment projects in several priority areas covered under the European Union (EU) Global Investment Alliance. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, who made the disclosure, said this is with a view to incentivising and allowing wider private-sector involvement and benefit...

The Ministry of Science, Energy, and Technology will be receiving funding to strengthen Jamaica’s cybersecurity framework. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said that commencing this financial year, US$6.5 million in loans and US$3.5 million in grants will be provided through a project jointly funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He...

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) will be undertaking several activities during May in observance of Child Month. These include outreach initiatives, workshops, empowerment sessions, as well as ‘edutainment’ experiences. Acting Chief Executive Officer of the CPFSA, Michelle McIntosh Harvey, said the planned activities will target children in State care and the wider community, with an emphasis on...