The Ministry of Agriculture is slated to spend over $418 million in 2015/16, to continue work on existing agro-parks and establish new facilities. This allocation, according to Agriculture, Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, will complement the $718 million spent over the past two years to develop the nine agro-parks currently in operation. He made this disclosure during...

Opposition Spokesperson on Science and Technology, Dr. Andrew Wheatley, says that the area of e-waste and e-waste recycling represents a promising emerging market for Jamaica, while also having the potential to bridge the gap between technology and the environment. He was making his contribution to the 2015/16 Sectoral Debate on Wednesday, April 15, in the House of Representatives. “Let us,...

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell is assuring that number portability will be available to Jamaicans by May 31 this year. He informed that he has issued a Number Portability Administrator licence to Porting Access B.V. a company out of the Netherlands, which is working to ensure that this deadline will be met. The Minister was...

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Mr. Speaker, let me on rising to make yet another contribution to the Sectoral Debate in this Honourable House, pay homage to the great geometrician. He continues to fortify and inspire me as I serve my constituents, stakeholders in the portfolio I oversee, and indeed, the Jamaican people in general; be they at home or abroad. I take this...

Tourism and Entertainment Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, says the changes to the Air Passenger Duty (APD), which take effect on May 1, will have a positive impact on the country’s tourism. The changes, announced by the United Kingdom (UK) Chancellor of the Exchequer last year, will lower taxes on airline tickets out of the UK, thereby reducing travel costs....

The Government now has the authority to spend funds allotted in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, following the passage of the Appropriation Act 2015 in the Senate on Friday, March 27. This annual Bill provides authority for expenditure (other than statutory expenditure) for the financial year 2015/16 and specifies the manner in which the money is to be allocated to...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, has announced that the law is to be amended to allow for stiffer penalties for the murder of pregnant girls, especially if it can be established that the perpetrator knew of the pregnancy. “This is to be treated as an aggravating feature in determining the sentence imposed by the court, so that...