The Government’s renewable energy programme has received a boost from the United Kingdom, which has provided a grant of $4.8 million to the Wigton Windfarm at Rose Hill, in Manchester. The grant will fund the installation of a solar panel roof for a training lab at the facility, and the purchase of a wind turbine. Both will be used for...

Come September, students at 37 schools islandwide will have access to tablet computers, through the Tablet in Schools Pilot project. Under the project, 30,000 tablets will be distributed to students in primary and secondary schools to increase the use of technology, and to optimise learning opportunities within and outside of the formal school system. This was disclosed by Minister of...

State-run oil refinery, Petrojam Limited, has donated some $1.4 million to RISE Life Management Services, to assist with the non-profit organisation’s operational expenses and sustain its current programmes for inner-city children. Manager, Human Resources Development and Administration, Petrojam, Andrea Bent, who made the presentation to Executive Director of  RISE Life, Sonita Morin Abrahams, during a brief ceremony at Petrojam’s Marcus...

Jamaica remains on track to reduce its energy bill by 2016, says Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell. He noted that this will be achieved through several noteworthy measures including the establishment of a 360-megawatt power plant. The power plant is a critical component of the Government’s plans to reduce energy cost from the current rate...

Seventeen young people, from communities in Kingston and St. Andrew and St. James, have been equipped with skills in animation. This was under a $9 million training project undertaken by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) in collaboration with Reel Rock GSW Animation Limited, the Professional Development Institute (PDI), Girls Town, and the University of the West Indies (UWI) Western Campus....

Jamaica will, over the next four months, supply Venezuela with some 100,000 tonnes of clinker, valued at approximately US$8.5 million, for the latter’s utilization in the production of cement. The provision, which is being facilitated under the Trade Compensation Mechanism of the PetroCaribe Agreement between both countries, will commence this month and last until April 2014. Under the arrangement, Carib...

The Government is making good on its promise to roll out the Tablets in Schools pilot project, with Cabinet approving the allocation of $1.4 billion from the Universal Service Fund, to implement the initiative. Some 25,000 tablets will be issued to students and teachers in 38 schools, ranging from infant departments to special education institutions, and teachers’ colleges, across the...