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The Government will be increasing provisions under the social safety net to provide a cushion for Jamaicans as the country grapples with the current world financial crisis. "The global economic crisis only reinforces our commitment to ensuring that the most vulnerable members of our society are protected," said Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw as he...

The call-in programme, "Jamaica House Live", hosted by Prime Minister Bruce Golding, is on again this last Wednesday, April 29 from 8:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. The programme allows Jamaicans at home and abroad, to call and speak with the Prime Minister on any issue or concern that they might have. Issues are discussed and there is always follow-up action...

The Government is further reducing the rates for Stamp Duty and Transfer Tax this fiscal year, mainly to stimulate a revival in the real estate and construction sectors. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, told the House of Representatives on Tuesday(April 23), that Stamp Duty will be reduced from 4.5% to 3%, and Transfer Tax from...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has said that the proceeds of salary cuts from Government members of the House, which will amount to $8 million, will go towards assisting infirmaries islandwide. In a national broadcast a few weeks ago Prime Minister, Bruce Golding had informed that he would "lead by example" and give up his seven...

The Government is moving speedily to put legislation in place to address sexual harassment and a proposal will be presented to Cabinet soon. This disclosure was made on April 21 by Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia Grange, at a 'Sexual Harassment Rap Up' forum at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston. Minister Grange, who has responsibility for...

The usual Monday morning meeting of Cabinet will take place today (Wednesday, April 22). The meeting was rescheduled in light of the visit of Prime Minister of Canada, the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper. The visit also included a special joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament which took place on Monday, instead of the usual Tuesday meeting of the House...

Prime Minister of Canada the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, will address a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament on Monday (April 20) at 2:10 p.m. The Prime Minister arrived in the island on Sunday night (April 19) for a two-day working visit. He travelled to Jamaica by special aircraft from the three-day Summit of the Americas, which ended on...

A total of $2.4 billion has been allocated to the Customs Department this fiscal year, as Government moves to implement strategies to meet revenue targets, collect overdue amounts, and foster an environment for voluntary tax compliance. This is contained in the 2009/10 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives. In meeting the stated targets, measures will...

Cabinet has given approval for a Bill entitled, the Child Pornography (Prevention) Act 2009, to be tabled in Parliament. This was disclosed recently by Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, at a post Cabinet press briefing, held at Jamaica House. She explained that the Bill seeks to specifically recognise and treat child pornography as a criminal offence...

Some $4.617million has been set aside in the 20109/2010 budget to assist with the implementation of biodiversity conservation programmes in select Cockpit Country forest reserve sites, that are being affected by expanding agricultural activities. As set out in the Estimates of Expenditure, the Biodiversity Conservation Programmes in the Cockpit Country Forest Reserve Project, will conduct a number of activities. Targets...

Government's support for Special Education has been boosted with the provision of over $800 million in the 2009/2010 Estimates of Expenditure. The total figure of $846.6 million will be apportioned as follows: schools for the mentally challenged, $405 million; institutions for the hearing impaired, $159 million; and schools for the visually impaired, $60 million. The funds will be used to...

The Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James has received $1.2 billion in the 2009/10 Estimates of Expenditure to continue its construction. The project is expected to provide direct and indirect employment for approximately 2,300 persons and, eventually, generate foreign exchange earnings from direct and indirect spending by delegates, exhibitors and associates using the facility, as well as improve the...