A sum of $150 million has been budgeted for the Modernisation of the Agricultural Sector Programme. The objective of the project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, is to increase agricultural productivity and income for beneficiary smallholder farmers. Details are outlined in the 2022/2023 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. Among the...

The Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act 2022 was tabled in the House of Representatives on February 10, introducing harsher penalties for offences connected to the illicit trade, manufacture, stockpiling, possession and use of illegal guns. The legislation is aimed at addressing the challenges being experienced in the country with respect to the proliferation of illegal firearms, and importantly, to...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says students will return to full face-to-face classes following the mid-term break in March. He was speaking in the House of Representatives on Thursday (February 10), where he announced further revisions to the coronavirus (COVID-19) containment measures. The measures, which include a reduction in the nightly curfew hours, take effect on February 11...

Work on construction of Jamaica’s new Houses of Parliament will commence this year. This was disclosed by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, who was delivering the Throne Speech at the ceremonial opening of Parliament on Thursday (February 10). Construction of the new Parliament building forms part of the National Heroes Park Redevelopment and Government Campus Project,...

The Government is to begin issuing National Identification cards this year, following the passage of the associated regulations for the National Identification and Registration Act. This was announced by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, who was delivering the Throne Speech at the ceremonial opening of Parliament on Thursday (February 10). “With the passage of the National...

Jamaicans benefited from 6,924 loans valued at $24.1 billion, written by the National Housing Trust (NHT) between April 2021 and December 2021. This was disclosed by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, as he delivered the Throne Speech at the ceremonial opening of Parliament on Thursday (February 10). He noted that the entity is on course to...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced further revisions of the coronavirus (COVID-19) containment measures under the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA), effective Friday (February 11). The revised measures, which include relaxation of the nightly curfew hours, are based on declines in the COVID-19 indicators, particularly infections and hospitalisations. In a statement to the House of Representatives on...