More

Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies has emphasized that the government was totally committed to the future of Air Jamaica, as it was playing a critical role in the overall development of the country's tourism product and the national economy. "The government of Jamaica has been, by far, the major financial supporter of Air Jamaica, both in its...

The Crop Research and Development and the Plant Protection programmes in the Ministry of Agriculture have received $6 million for research activities. The allotment was made in the 2004/05 Estimates of Expenditure, which were tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (March 31) at Gordon House. Of this amount, the Crop Research and Development programme has received $4 million...

The National Solid Waste Management Project has been allocated $75 million in the 2004/05 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project seeks to: improve the management of solid waste throughout the island, develop and implement new operational procedures as well as appropriate legislative and administrative systems, and convert the Riverton City Waste Disposal site into a...

The Government has presented a net budget of $328.15 billion for Financial Year 2004/05, to cover its Recurrent (house-keeping) and Capital (development) expenses. This sum is based on projections in the 2004/05 Estimates of Expenditure, which were tabled in the House of Representatives today (March 31) by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies. Broken down, the figures reveal...

Governor-General His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Howard Cooke has said in light of changing times there is increased urgency for greater cooperation and communication among Jamaicans in all quarters as well as with the Caribbean Community and international partners. In this, he said, Jamaica was engaged in a review of the overall strategy and approach in the three negotiating...

A sum of $14 million has been allocated to the Livestock Research and Improvement programme in the Ministry of Agriculture. The funds, which have been earmarked in the 2004/05 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives today (March 31), are focused on improving livestock and animal products. The allocation is for five sub-projects, including the Feeds Research and...

A team from the Ministry of Finance and Planning, will be going to Washington next week to hold discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board, to finalize the details for the implementation of a monitoring mechanism to replace the discontinued Staff Monitored Programme (SMP). Dr. Davies told members of the private sector at a meeting in Kingston recently, that...

The $10 million project has been implemented through financing from the CHASE fund to equip 68 libraries with the necessary technology to provide Internet service. The project was officially launched at the Green Island Branch library in Hanover on March 4. Chairman of the Jamaica Library Board, Dr. Simon Clarke emphasises a point, while speaking yesterday (Mar. 3) at the...

The National Export-Import Bank of Jamaica Limited (Ex-Im) has launched a loan programme to offer financial aid to entrepreneurs in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector. The programme, which is two-pronged, will see the Bank partnering with the Technology Innovation Centre (TIC) of the University of Technology (UTech) to implement the ICT -Yes initiative, which involves offering short term revolving...

The House of Representatives yesterday (March 2) approved a Bill to amend the Loan Act of 1964 to increase the government's borrowing ceiling from $400 billion to $650 billion. Piloting the Bill, State Minister for Finance and Planning, Fitz Jackson, explained that this adjustment would allow the government to finance its operations throughout the financial year. The Act provides for...

Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. Omar Davies yesterday (March 2) tabled the first supplementary estimates in the House of Representatives for the 2003/2004 fiscal year. The estimates, totalling $17.46 billion has recurrent expenses of $14.43 billion and capital expenditure amounting to $3.02 billion. Under recurrent expenses in the revised estimates, the Office of the Services Commission is to receive a...

The Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank will launch a new loan programme on Friday, March 5, specifically targetting the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector. Managing Director of the Ex-Im Bank, Pamella McLean, told JIS News that the bank would be making available to the sector, a total fund pool of $80 million, of which $20 million would be directed as working...