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A special joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament was held on Wednesday (June 6) to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, led the tributes to Her Majesty, which preceded the unveiling of a commemorative plaque to mark the Diamond Jubilee. Mrs. Simpson Miller said the people of...

Response to revenue measures Government, after discussion with the Minister of Finance, has completely removed GCT on electricity bills for all residential customers.  Energy Government is awaiting the outcome of the bids and any subsequent negotiations for the provision of necessary infrastructure and the supply of the LNG. Conservation must be practiced in homes, farms, factories, offices, hotels and while...

The Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) is one of three main areas, which will benefit from a $1 billion grant from the PetroCaribe Fund during the 2012/13 fiscal year. The others are the Students Loan Bureau (SLB) and social housing programmes, Finance and Planning Minister, Hon. Dr. Peter Phillips, disclosed on May 24, while opening the 2012/13 budget debate in...

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector is set to benefit from loans and technical assistance totalling upwards of $3 billion from the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) during the 2012/13 fiscal year, Finance and Planning Minister, Hon. Dr. Peter Phillips, has announced. Making the opening presentation in the 2012/13 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives, on May...

A minimum of 30 lobster condominiums are to be installed during this financial year as the Government works to improve the productivity of the fisheries sector. Some $25 million has been set aside in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure for this initiative under the Improving Jamaica’s Agricultural Productivity (Marine) Project in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The funds will...

The small ruminant industry is to be further developed this financial year, with an allotment of $55.5 million to the Diversification of the Caribbean Livestock through the Production of Small Ruminants project. The objectives of the project, as outlined in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, are to contribute to the attainment of self-sufficiency in regional meat consumption initially, through the...

Just over $12 million has been earmarked in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, to effect activities related to town and country planning, and policy development, this year. Under Sub Programme 21, being implemented by the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, just over $5 million has been allocated to do upgrading of the National Physical Plan. The allocation...

Just over $14 million has been allocated in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives, to effect the National Quick Start Programme Trust Fund Project, in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change. The project, formerly known as the Globally Harmonized System of the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, is being implemented by the...

A total of $1.868 billion has been allocated to the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The money will be used to undertake several initiatives, including: Inner City Basic Services, which has received  $662 million; Basic Needs (5) Trust Fund, which has been given $2 million; Basic Needs Trust...

In a continued bid to promote private sector productive investment and job creation in Jamaica, the government has set aside $1.04 million for the Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment in Jamaica. This is set out in the 2012/2013 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. With funding support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the project aims to...

For this fiscal year, the Government will seek to strengthen its efforts to improve the lives of the country’s disabled population. This will be facilitated through funds set aside in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The allocation of $24 million will go towards improving the framework for the Ministry of Labour and Social Security...

The Government is looking to increase benefit levels for beneficiaries under the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) by 15 per cent this fiscal year. The provision comes under the Social Protection Project, which is being strengthened with an allocation of $4 billion in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. It is anticipated...