The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) has received funding of US$400,000 to procure speed monitoring devices and breath testing equipment for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), to assist in reducing road fatalities. Programme Coordinator of the NRSC, Victor Anderson, told JIS News that some of the money will also be used for administration of the project, improvement in data capture...

The Government has allocated approximately $225 million to increase Jamaica’s resilience to climate change and reduce poverty through the implementation of an Integrated and Sustainable Landscape Management Methodology. Details of the provision are contained in the 2024/25 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled recently in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke....

More than $359 million has been earmarked to continue Global Services Skills (GSS) Project implementation during fiscal year 2024/25. The Project aims to promote the Global Services Sector’s (GSS) growth in Jamaica, particularly in higher value-added segments. It specifically intends to provide the sector with better skilled workers and increase Jamaica’s institutional capacity to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and...

Local agro-processors and food and beverage manufacturers are being encouraged to explore the many prospects for exporting Jamaican food products. “We continue to see demand for ready to eat products, not just from our Diaspora members, but also from mainstream consumers,” said Agri-Business Exports Acting Manager, Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Shanique Edwards. “Export offers significant opportunities for local companies in...

Plans are progressing for a Charity Ball to raise funds to assist adolescent mothers to be reintegrated into the school system. The event, scheduled to take place on May 18 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, is being organised by the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF), an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport....

A total of 120 government facilities, including 50 public buildings, will be retrofitted with energy efficient lighting during the new financial year. The work will be done under the Energy Management and Efficiency Programme (EMEP), which has been allocated $713.3 million in the 2024/25 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. Being implemented by the Ministry of Science,...

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is advising its customers that due to the country’s Local Government Elections on Monday, February 26, 2024, all Tax Offices and the Stamp Duty and Transfer Tax office will close to the public at 12:00 p.m. Business locations however, will close at 1:00 p.m. The closures are to facilitate TAJ personnel exercising their right to vote....

An additional $35.9 million has been budgeted to continue work under the Soil Fertility Mapping Project during fiscal year 2024/25. The project, which commenced in October 2021, aims to increase productivity and the quality of agricultural produce through an integrated soil management system. It is also intended to optimise farmers’ profits and enhance farming efficiency, while maintaining good environmental stewardship....

Work will continue during fiscal year 2024/25 to upgrade Jamaica’s emergency communication system. The Government has budgeted $1.3 billion to continue initiatives under the ‘Improvement of Emergency Communication System in Jamaica’ Project. This engagement aims to develop a national emergency communication system to coordinate incident response among key government agencies and volunteers. Details of the project are outlined in the...