The Ministry of Youth and Culture is spearheading the development of a National Plan of Action for an Integrated Response to Children and Violence (NPACV). Portfolio Minister, Hon. Lisa Hanna, made the announcement during her contribution to the 2015/16 Sectoral debate in the House of Representatives on May 6. She said the NPACV, which will be implemented during the course...

The Ministry of Health will be spending some $460 million to undertake work at 12 secondary care facilities across the island during the current fiscal year. The allocation will go towards further expansion of the Linstead Hospital in St. Catherine and the Princess Margaret Hospital in St. Thomas, among others. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, made the announcement on...

The Jamaica Mortgage Bank (JMB) is currently in discussions with other lending institutions for loans of $2 billion to finance its investment programme, as currently it has over $4 billion in applications in the pipeline, including proposals to build low and middle income houses. “In an effort to increase the housing stock, the Jamaica Mortgage Bank projects commitment of approximately...

Three major markets are to be upgraded and refurbished this year under the Markets Rehabilitation Programme. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, said the markets slated for work are Ocho Rios, St. Ann; Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth; and Port Maria, St. Mary. Minister Arscott was making his contribution to the 2015/16 Sectoral Debate on April 22,...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) will be undertaking a special hurricane preparedness public education campaign this year. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, said the campaign, to begin before the start of the 2015 hurricane season, “will sensitise citizens on critical matters pertaining to their preparedness and response.” Minister Arscott was making...

The Government will, this year, implement several projects, valued over $1 billion, which aim to transform the lives of sugar industry workers. Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, outlined details of the engagements during his 2015/16 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, April 21, under the theme: ‘Making Jamaica’s Agriculture Sustainable’. Mr. Kellier said...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is targeting another 8,093 hectares (20,000 acres) of Government land for development into agro-parks over the next five years. The move forms part of the Ministry’s undertaking to preserve and utilise the 271,600 hectares, or 25 per cent, of Jamaica’s just over one million hectares of land, deemed suitable for agriculture. It will also...