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Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, speaks after tabling the 2023/24 Estimates of Expenditure in the House of Representatives on February 14.

$1.1 Billion for Project to Boost Growth of MSMEs and Start-Ups

Just over $1.1 billion has been allocated to continue the implementation of the Boosting Innovation, Growth and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (BIGEE) project. The project aims to promote the sustainable and robust growth among startups and MSMEs in Jamaica. Details are contained...

Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Daryl Vaz (second left), unveils the sign for the Buff Bay Community Wi-fi hotspot in Portland, which was launched recently. Joining him (from left) are Chief Executive Officer, Universal Service Fund (USF), Daniel Dawes; Chief Executive Officer, Lifespan Spring Water, Nayana Williams; Principal, Buff Bay High, Sandra Buchanan; Principal, Buff Bay Primary, Jacqueline Edwards and Vice Principal, Buff Bay Primary, Keisha Braimbridge.

63 More Wi-Fi Hotspots Coming

A $2.3-billion allocation has been made to continue work on the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project in the upcoming fiscal year.
The sum has been budgeted in the 2023/24 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, recently.
The project, which began in December 2019, aims to provide access to irrigation water on fallow sugar lands, to increase agricultural productivity through the modernisation of the agricultural sector. It includes construction of wells and canal network and the development of the associated agricultural infrastructure in the arable areas of Amity Hall and Bridge Pen in St. Catherine and Parnassus in Clarendon.
Up to December 2022, the drilling of three wells and yield test were completed in Parnassus, and abstraction licences were approved by the Water Resources Authority.
Other physical achievements of the project include the completion of capacity-building for climate resilience and crop modelling, the design of agricultural buildings, the irrigation network design, the irrigation and road/draining works, and a gender-responsive training manual for farmer groups.
For fiscal year 2023/24, anticipated physical targets of the project are to commence the construction of agricultural buildings and to complete the construction of irrigation network and roads/drainage infrastructure, as well as to complete the rehabilitation of Hartlands canal.
This is in addition to the re-tender for contract to construct pump houses and reservoir at Amity Hall/Bridge Pen and the acquisition of GIS equipment for the NIC.
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Southern Plains…2
The project is being implemented by the Ministry Agriculture and Fisheries, with co-funding from the Government of Jamaica and the Caribbean Development Bank.
It is slated to end in December 2024. An additional $361.7 million has been earmarked to undertake activities in fiscal year 2024/25, if necessary. — A $2.3-billion allocation has been made to continue work on the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project in the upcoming fiscal year. The sum has been budgeted in the 2023/24 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, recently. The project, which began in December 2019, aims to provide access to irrigation water on fallow sugar lands, to increase agricultural productivity through the modernisation of the agricultural sector. It includes construction of wells and canal network and the development of the associated agricultural infrastructure in the arable areas of Amity Hall and Bridge Pen in St. Catherine and Parnassus in Clarendon. Up to December 2022, the drilling of three wells and yield test were completed in Parnassus, and abstraction licences were approved by the Water Resources Authority. Other physical achievements of the project include the completion of capacity-building for climate resilience and crop modelling, the design of agricultural buildings, the irrigation network design, the irrigation and road/draining works, and a gender-responsive training manual for farmer groups. For fiscal year 2023/24, anticipated physical targets of the project are to commence the construction of agricultural buildings and to complete the construction of irrigation network and roads/drainage infrastructure, as well as to complete the rehabilitation of Hartlands canal. This is in addition to the re-tender for contract to construct pump houses and reservoir at Amity Hall/Bridge Pen and the acquisition of GIS equipment for the NIC. (more) Southern Plains…2 The project is being implemented by the Ministry Agriculture and Fisheries, with co-funding from the Government of Jamaica and the Caribbean Development Bank. It is slated to end in December 2024. An additional $361.7 million has been earmarked to undertake activities in fiscal year 2024/25, if necessary.

Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project Gets $2.3 Billion

Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Daryl Vaz.

Residents of Windsor Castle Get Internet Access

Work Continues on Essex Valley Irrigation Project

(FILE) Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (January 31).

3 years ago Finance & Public ServiceParliament

Facilities at Bodles Research Station to be Rehabilitated

To continue the rehabilitation of selected facilities at the Bodles Research Station and directly impact the level of support given to farmers, an allocation of approximately $39.6million has been made. The provision is contained in the 2023/24 Estimates of Expenditure, which was tabled in the House of Representatives recently. Targets of the project include the expansion, upgrade, and restoration of...

3 years ago Finance & Public Service

$24.3M Earmarked to Complete Credit Enhancement Programme

Approximately $24.3 million has been earmarked for the completion of the Credit Enhancement Programme in the upcoming fiscal year. The sum is contained in the 2023/24 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project’s objective is to promote productive investments in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Jamaica by enhancing their access to financing, particularly medium...

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, engages with members of the Young Women in Leadership Parliament, just before the start of the historic all-female sitting at Gordon House on Tuesday (February 21).

3 years ago Gender AffairsParliament

Young Female Leaders Urge Gov’t to Prioritise Gender Equality, Women’s Economic Empowerment

Members of the first Young Women in Leadership Parliament are calling on the Government to implement a national action plan to prioritise gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. During the session held on Tuesday (February 21) at Gordon House, the members, representing the 63 constituencies across the island, recommended the development of programmes in the educational sector to strengthen women...

3 years ago CommerceIndustry

JIPO to Host Seminar on February 27

In celebration of Reggae Month, the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) will host a seminar titled, ‘Sounds of Success: Intellectual Property and the Music Industry’, on February 27, starting at 1:00 p.m. The seminar will be held in the Vera Moody Concert Hall at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) and will take the format...

3 years ago Finance & Public ServiceParliament

$207M Earmarked to Continue Development of United Nations House

The renovation of space encompassing Block 11 at 14-16 Port Royal Street in downtown Kingston for use as the United Nations (UN) local office, will continue in the 2023/24 fiscal year with an allocation of $207 million. The provision is set aside in the 2023/24 Estimates of Expenditure, which were tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance...

Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Director-General, Dr. Wayne Henry.

3 years ago Tourism

Tourism Continues to Drive Post-COVID 19 Recovery

Jamaica’s tourism industry continues to figure consistently in Jamaica’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery. Data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) shows that the ‘Hotels and Restaurants’ sub-group, which largely captures tourism-related activities, grew by an estimated 23.4 per cent for the October to December 2022 quarter on the back of several positive outcomes. Speaking during the PIOJ’s quarterly media briefing...

3 years ago Technology

Ministry of Finance Employee Wins NFA Logo Competition

Administrator at the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Danielle Barnes, is the winner of the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) logo competition for its new information system - IrieFINS The selection of a logo advances the NFA one step closer to the roll-out of its new online licensing and registration system. The winning design will be used online, in...