Some $28 million has been earmarked in the country’s 2014/15 budget to fund activities aimed at improving the levels of innovation in the Caribbean, by building and strengthening capacities in science, technology, and innovation. The anticipated targets this fiscal year for the Improving Innovation Capacities in the Caribbean Project involve: engaging the services of a field officer and junior expert;...

The Government has allocated $3.1 million in the 2014/2015 Estimates of Expenditure for the Wind Powered Irrigation Feasibility Assessment Project. The Estimates of Expenditure are to be considered by the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament from April 8 to 10. The objectives of the project are to conduct a wind assessment in the Pedro Plains area of St. Elizabeth by...

Some $7.4 million has been allotted in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure for the establishment of a Latin America Energy Organization (OLADE) Caribbean Sub-regional office in Jamaica. The project aims to facilitate deeper integration among member countries in the Caribbean and provide greater access to products and services offered by OLADE. As at February 2014, a sub-regional office was established...

A total of $156.3 million has been set aside in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure to fund the Rural Electrification Programme. The objective of the project is to expand the reach of electricity supply to rural areas, where the provision of such services would not be economically viable for commercial providers. Other objectives include: enabling householders in rural communities to...

A sum of $15 million has been allocated in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure for the Enhancing the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Regulatory Environment in Jamaica project. The proposed budget, which was tabled in the House of Representatives on April 3 by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, will be reviewed by the Standing Finance Committee...

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell is encouraging telecommunications providers to create commercial spaces that can facilitate Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO). These he encouraged, should be outfitted with world class, state-of-the-art, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Minister Paulwell said Jamaica has become a highly competitive and attractive business destination and a leading contact centre location in...

The Government’s planned establishment of an Energy Services Company (ESCO) Industry in Jamaica will be further advanced this year with an allocation of $20 million in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, which have been tabled in the House of Representatives. The money will be used to continue work to complete implementation of the energy sector’s institutional regulatory framework; conduct seven...