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Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, highlights a matter of importance during his contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 24).

First NIDS Pilot Site In Kingston August

The first National Identification System (NIDS) pilot enrolment site is scheduled to be established in Kingston and St. Andrew by August 2022. Being implemented by the Office of the Prime Minister, NIDS is intended to provide a comprehensive and secure...

State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn, makes his contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, recently. Seated at left is Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn.

700 Visitors For World Free Zones Conference And Exhibition

Physical Inspection Of Commodities At Borders To Be Improved

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), and Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Floyd Green unveil the design on the front of the country’s first National Identification (ID) card. The card, which is to be provided free of cost to citizens under the soon to be rolled out National Identification System (NIDS) was revealed during Minister Green’s contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 24).

National ID Card Unveiled

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, addresses the official opening of the $580-million Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) Area 4 Headquarters, situated at Barnett Street in Montego Bay, St. James, on Friday (May 13).

$200 Million To Repair Roads In Montego Bay

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., makes his contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 17.

4 years ago AgricultureParliamentSectoral Debate 2022/23

Increase In Production Of Selected Crops And Livestock

Production of selected crops and livestock has increased as part of a wider import-substitution strategy. Making his contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 17, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., said the move will increase Jamaica’s food security in case of any fallout or disruption in the sector. He added that the Ministry...

State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn (at lectern), makes his contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 17).

4 years ago CommerceIndustryParliamentSectoral Debate 2022/23

Digital Transformation Coming For MSMEs

A digital transformation support programme is being designed for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), to aid in the adoption of technological solutions that will improve sustainability and advance the sector’s growth. The initiative, which will involve the integration of specialised digitalisation business development support, is being undertaken by the Industry, Investment and Commerce Ministry with the support of the...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., making his contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 17.

4 years ago AgricultureParliamentSectoral Debate 2022/23

Research For New Blends To Reduce Cost Of Fertiliser

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is collaborating with Jamaica’s main fertiliser manufacturer to guide research for the development of new blends that will maximise efficiency and reduce the cost for farmers. “Right now, our farmers, sadly, are utilising sometimes the wrong fertiliser and too much fertiliser. It is causing burning of our soil and it is constricting our productivity,”...

President of the Republic of India, His Excellency, the Hon. Ram Nath Kovind (seated) signs the guest book after addressing a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday (May 17), which was held as part of activities during his four-day State visit to Jamaica. Looking on (from left) are First Lady of India, Savita Kovind; Leader of the Opposition, Mark Golding; Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness; President of the Senate, Senator Thomas Tavares-Finson; Clerk to the Houses of Parliament, Valerie Curtis; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert.

4 years ago Indian PresidentOfficial VisitsParliament

PHOTOS: President Kovind Visits Gordon House

President of the Republic of India, His Excellency, the Hon. Ram Nath Kovind, addresses a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday (May 17). In the background are Speaker of the House of Representatives, Marisa Dalrymple Philibert (left); and President of the Senate, Senator Tom Tavares-Finson.

4 years ago Indian PresidentOfficial VisitsParliamentTechnology

Jamaica Interested In Hosting Indian Institute Of Technology

President of the Republic of India, His Excellency, the Hon. Ram Nath Kovind, says Jamaica has expressed interest in hosting an Indian Institute of Technology. He noted that under its 2020 national education policy, India is planning to start new institutes of technology abroad. “The national education policy has also opened up specialised technical courses in premier Indian colleges and...

4 years ago AgricultureParliamentSectoral Debate 2022/23

Domestic Food Production Increased In 2021

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is reporting that despite the challenges of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the production of chicken meat, eggs, and domestic food crops increased in 2021 when compared to the corresponding period in 2020. Portfolio Minister, Pearnel Charles Jr., provided an update while making his contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives...

Jamaica’s agriculture sector is slated to benefit from millions of dollars in support to bolster food security by strengthening the country’s agricultural output and improving sustainability and resilience within the sector.
The initiatives, to be implemented through partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), include a $38-million Food Loss and Waste (FLW) Reduction programme that will focus on strengthening food value chain operations.
It is part of strategic food security actions for the new fiscal year.
“That will speak to a strategy for reducing food losses along value chains, supporting our farmers to reduce post-harvest losses, and extending produce shelf-life to ensure enhanced farm and household cash inflows,” said Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr.
He was making his contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 17).
The Ministry will also be collaborating with the FAO to undertake projects to improve phytosanitary, food safety and market access opportunities along the hot pepper value chain, with funding of $152 million, and improve rural livelihoods through resilient agri-food systems, at a cost of $152 million.
The partnership will also include the $45-million Rocky Point Fishing Beach Improvement Project to include provision of landing equipment, fish cleaning and storage facilities, mangrove protection, as well as training for users, and the identification of two technical projects valued at $37 million for implementation across the sector.

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Jamaica Gets…2
In the meantime, Minister Charles Jr. informed that under the South-South Cooperation Programme, which is a partnership with FAO, China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Jamaica will benefit from a project valued at approximately US$2 million.
It is aimed at strengthening post coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery policies and programmes that facilitate better decision-making; promoting digitalisation and ecommerce strategies among farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and providing inputs for digitalisation of rural areas and for participation in the United Nations’ 1,000 Digital Village Initiative as a post COVID-19 measure.
The Minister noted that the FAO has greatly assisted the sector with technical training, funding of programmes and initiatives, and its continued support in the upcoming year in key focus areas is in line with the organisation’s thrust to support food security in the region.

4 years ago AgricultureParliamentSectoral Debate 2022/23

Jamaicans Get Funding To Strengthen Food Security, Agriculture Resilience

Jamaica’s agriculture sector is slated to benefit from millions of dollars in support to bolster food security by strengthening the country’s agricultural output and improving sustainability and resilience within the sector. The initiatives, to be implemented through partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), include a $38-million Food Loss and Waste (FLW) Reduction programme that will focus on strengthening...