The Government will commence implementing the Jamaica Entertainment and Creative Practitioners health and personal accident and life insurance programmes in fiscal year 2024/25. Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, made the disclosure during Wednesday’s (March 6) meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives, whose members are reviewing the 2024/25 Estimates of Expenditure....

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., says the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill remains a priority of the Government. “We have been driving that forward. What I would say is that for us to get it right, it requires the necessary interrogation so that the product will be fit to respond to our environment,” he...

The Government has indicated that Jamaica is well on its way to not just achieving but exceeding its emission reduction target by 2030. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, responding to questions at today’s (March 6) sitting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House, underscored that the sectors...

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service will again be releasing another edition of their Citizens’ Guide to the Budget. The document, which will be available on the website of the Ministry, is aimed at helping Jamaicans understand the technical terms and processes that are associated with the formulation of the National Budget. Speaking with JIS News, Director of...

Efforts are being made to increase the stipend that is paid to jurors in a bid to encourage more persons to serve. Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, informed that a submission has been made to the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service to deal with the matter. “The proposal is to more than double what is paid now...

Fitch Ratings Agency, today, March 5, 2024, upgraded Jamaica’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘BB-’, with the outlook remaining “Positive”. The rating upgrade results from the Government’s continued commitment to a stable economic policy framework underpinned by the Bank of Jamaica’s inflation-targeting monetary policy as well as sound fiscal management anchored on debt reduction targets. The Ratings Agency,...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, says the Government will be implementing measures to ensure greater spend of Capital Expenditure (CapEx) in the upcoming fiscal year. Dr. Clarke, who was addressing the sitting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives on Tuesday (March 5), said that the projects that fell behind...

The Government plans to institute legislation for the establishment of a business improvement district. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, made the disclosure during Tuesday’s (March 5) meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives, whose members are reviewing the 2024/25 Estimates of Expenditure. “We’re working on a project with the...

A rehabilitation plan is being crafted for Vale Royal by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT). This was disclosed by Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Information in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Robert Morgan, while responding to questions from members of the Standing Finance Committee of the House, which is reviewing the 2024/25 Estimates of Expenditure, on...