The Government is providing $3 million per constituency to support back-to-school initiatives. The funds will be made available through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). “That $3 million for back-to-school initiatives, per constituency, can only be used for book vouchers and for tuition support,” said Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke. He was speaking during...

The House of Representatives on Wednesday (July 19) approved the Second Supplementary Estimates for fiscal year 2023/24. The primary objective of the Estimates is to reallocate to individual Heads the required funds to enable payment of the compensation adjustments during the year. In December 2022, the Government commenced implementing the Public Sector Compensation Restructure, which is still under way. “The...

The Government will continue to implement measures aimed at increasing Jamaicans’ access to tertiary education financing. Addressing the launch of the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) revised Grant-In-Aid (GIA) Programme at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Thursday (July 20), Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, said the aim is to increase enrolment...

The Government has agreed to provide Windalco with a two-year relief from the payment of the bauxite production levy, which will save the jobs of hundreds of Jamaicans. Jamaica will forego an estimated US$10 million in levy payments from the company over the period. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, made the announcement during...

Jamaica’s export earnings for the first quarter of the 2023 calendar year, between January and March, totalled US$527.3 million. Figures released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) on Wednesday (July 19) show that the sum was 54.7 per cent above the US$340.9 million generated for the corresponding period in 2022. The outturn was also US$201.9 million more than the...

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has allocated an additional $104 million towards drought mitigation efforts for farmers. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, made the announcement during a statement to the House of Representatives on Wednesday (July 19). “To address the challenges of water scarcity and drought caused by climate change, we have initiated a comprehensive programme for the...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, on Tuesday (July 18), tabled the Second Supplementary Estimates for fiscal year 2023/24 in the House of Representatives. The primary objective of the Estimates is to reallocate to individual Heads the required funds to enable payment of the compensation adjustments during the fiscal year. In December 2022, the...