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KINGSTON — The Youth Development Programme, which facilitates the transition of unattached youth to adulthood and the world of work, through training, on the job experience, information dissemination, labour intermediation services and sector management have been boosted by an allocation of $205 million in the 2011/12 Budget. Up to February 2011, the programme had achieved procurement of consultants for three...

KINGSTON — The Government will continue to collaborate with the United Nation’s International Children’s Educational Fund (UNICEF) to increase youth access to quality information, skills and services to reduce the risk of HIV infection in 2011/12. The effort will be financed through an allocation of $16.7 million to the Youth Empowerment and Participation Programme in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure,...

KINGSTON — To achieve an effective transition to a sustainable sugar cane industry, the Government has allocated just over $2 billion for the Sugar Transformation Project in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives. As stated in the Estimates, the project aims to develop a sustainable private sector- led sugar cane industry by 2015;...

KINGSTON — The Jamaica Economical Housing Project has received $1.5 billion in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure to upgrade infrastructure (water, sewerage and roads) in the rural communities of St. Ann and St. Elizabeth. Other objectives of the project,  as outlined in the Estimates, now before the House, include: alleviating the deficit of housing solutions in St. Ann, by providing...

KINGSTON — A sum of $46.85 million has been allocated in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives, to improve the operations of the School Feeding Programme. The programme, which started in July 2010 through funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Jamaica, is a...

KINGSTON — The Government has earmarked $24.3 million for the development of a comprehensive multi-hazard disaster management plan for towns and cities under the Natural Hazard Management in Urban Coastal Areas project. The project, which got underway in April 2008, seeks to strengthen the parish response capacity through comprehensive disaster management training, public education, and awareness; and provide technical assistance...

KINGSTON — The Competitive Coffee Enterprises Programme is to be further enhanced with an allocation of $49 million in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. Implemented in September 2010, the objectives of the project are to provide capacity building of coffee co-operatives in the central and northern regions of Jamaica; improve the competitiveness of small...

KINGSTON — A sum of $148 million has been allocated in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives, to continue work on the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Agricultural Competitiveness Programme this year. The objectives of the project are: to increase competitiveness in the agricultural sector; to facilitate small and medium farmers' access to markets; ensure...

KINGSTON — A sum of $132 billion has been set aside in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure for the Government’s repayment of internal and external debt and sinking fund contributions. In terms of internal debt, a total of $45 billion of the money will deal with market issues such as repayment of local registered stock (LRS) issued to the Bank...

KINGSTON — The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is to receive $14.8 million this fiscal year, to strengthen its institutional capacity and the national statistics system. This will be done by providing financial and technical input to adopt a strategic approach to improving the scope and quality of statistical services. The funds, which have been allocated in the 2011/2012 Estimates...

KINGSTON — The Sugar Company of Jamaica Limited and Air Jamaica are to receive grants totalling $7.1 billion to meet legacy payments arising from the divestment of both entities. As contained in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the Sugar Company of Jamaica Limited is to receive $2.6 billion, while Air Jamaica will get $4.5...

KINGSTON — Jamaica's effort to develop a strategic spatial framework, which would guide national development and investment decision-making, is being enhanced through a $44.5 million allocation to the National Spatial Plan (NSP) project in the Office of the Prime Minister. The plan will ensure the optimal use of the country’s land resources and outline the framework for their effective use...