The House of Representatives, on Tuesday (June 11), approved the Conch (Export Levy) (Rate of Levy) Order, 2024, and Resolution, to maintain the current levy of US$0.50 imposed on each pound of conch exported during the 2024 season. In his remarks, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, said the Conch (Export Levy) Act was passed in 2009...

The Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) is moving to prepare drafting instructions for the substantive Bill to transition Jamaica from a constitutional monarchy to a republic. Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, made the disclosure during her contribution to the 2024/25 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 11). “When the Bill comes to...

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has announced a new programme to revitalise the dairy industry to meet local and international demand for milk and milk products. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, in his contribution to the 2024/25 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives recently, said that under the Dairy Livestock and Innovation Nutrition Programme, solar-powered cooling systems...

Legislation to establish a National Natural Disaster Reserve Fund (NNDRF) was passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 4). The Bill, the Financial Administration and Audit (Amendment) (No. 3) Act, 2023, was piloted by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke. He said the Bill, amongst other things, identifies the sources of funding...

Petrojam Limited has fully recovered from the fire that damaged sections of the refinery in March of this year. Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon. Daryl Vaz, provided an update during his contribution to the 2024/25 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday (June 4). He noted that during the period January to December 2023, Petrojam...

The Government Electrical Regulator (GER), established under the Electricity Act, has made considerable progress since its inception on November 1, 2021, says Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon. Daryl Vaz. Making his contribution to the 2024/25 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 4, the Minister said the GER has licensed 290 private electrical inspectors, representing...

The Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport (MSETT) has completed the development of a National Electricity Loss Reduction Plan. This was done with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID). “The Plan, supported by the Energy Loss Independent Report of 2022, outlines a comprehensive strategy to address electricity theft. In 2023,...