Approximately 350,000 Jamaicans are expected to benefit from new grants under the Government’s COVID Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme which is being expanded with a further budgetary allocation of $5.3 billion. Over a period of six months, one-off grants, ranging from $10,000 to $18,000 will be provided for vulnerable persons in six categories at a total cost of...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, says the 14 per cent growth in the services industry for the April to June quarter heightens the prospect of sooner-than-anticipated recovery from the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Planning Institute of Jamica (PIOJ) reported that the industry’s turnout largely spurred a turnaround in...

Drafting instructions are to be issued to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel for amendments to the Bank of Jamaica Act, to facilitate the issuance of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) by the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ). The move follows approval by Cabinet. Addressing a virtual post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday (October 6), Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Fayval...

Outstanding payments to teachers who participated in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information’s National Summer School Programme are to be completed by mid-October. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Grace McLean, made the disclosure during a virtual post-Cabinet press briefing, held on Wednesday (October 6). Dr. McLean said of the over 3,500 teachers engaged in the sessions, more than...

The Soil Fertility Mapping Project for Sustainable Agriculture in Jamaica is to be included in the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP). Education, Youth and Information Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, made the disclosure during the virtual post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday (October 6). The project involves partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco over a period of four years. Its purpose is...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, says the MyHR+ online integrated human resource and payroll system being implemented across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) has begun to yield dividends for users. Noting that the platform has already been rolled out in 40 MDAs, Dr. Clarke said “those who have it can tell you the...

Applications for the operation of approved integrated resort developments will be opened on Wednesday (October 6), as the Government shores up its strategies to attract casino gaming investment in Jamaica. An integrated resort development consists of a mix of various tourism amenities and facilities in the same precinct, including but not limited to hotels, hotel rooms, villas, casinos, attractions, sporting...