Education received the largest share of the 2023/24 Budget for recurrent programmes outside of debt payments and compensation of employees. A sum of $142.9 billion is earmarked for the sector in the upcoming fiscal year, representing approximately 22 per cent of the $657.2 billion for non-debt recurrent expenditure. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke,...

Industry leaders, international experts, traders and exporters will join the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC) and border regulatory agencies (BRAs) for a trade forum, on Wednesday, March 15. The topic to be discussed is ‘Facilitating Competitive, Safe and Secure Cross-border Trade: What will it take?’. The forum will be held at the University of the West Indies Regional...

The two-day trade mission to Trinidad and Tobago, led by Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, is currently under way. The mission, which will take place from March 9 to 10, will seek to expand co-operation in trade affairs between the two countries, with great focus being placed on creating and strengthening partnerships in the...

Children need to learn more about their Jamaican culture, says Principal of Salt Marsh Primary and Infant School in Trelawny, Mervyn Sinclair. Speaking to JIS News following a Jamaica Day celebration at the school, on Friday, March 3, Mr. Sinclair said that not many children appreciate the importance of the Jamaican brand and the popularity of their culture beyond the...

Hundreds of placard-bearing students from Gregory Park Primary School in St. Catherine marched in the community on Tuesday (March 7), calling for an end to crime and violence. The Peace Day event, under the theme ‘Mek Wi Grow In Peace’, was organised by the school and included residents from the area. It was supported by Member of Parliament for St....

In the upcoming fiscal year, the Government will introduce two new incentive programmes to encourage greater take-up of the Central Bank Digital Currency, JAM-DEX. They are the Small/Micro Merchant Incentive Programme and the Wallet-holder Individual Loyalty Programme. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, provided details while opening the 2023/24 Budget Debate in the House...

The number of bush fires recorded in Jamaica has more than tripled for the month of February, when compared to the corresponding period last year. Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Stewart Beckford, told JIS News that firefighters responded to 1,303 reports of bush fires last month, which represents a 224 per cent increase over the 402 recorded last...