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The Government has removed the General Consumption Tax (GCT) on electricity bills for all residential customers, making good on an election promise.  This was announced by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller on June 5, while making her contribution to the 2012/13 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives. “We made a promise before the elections to relieve...

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, has underscored the deep sense of urgency with which the government is moving to deal with the high level of energy cost that is affecting the country. “We have to find new fuel sources and so we are pursuing natural gas. We believe that there is a role for coal...

Minister of State for Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson, said the recent passage of amendments to the Telecommunications Act will ensure greater access to Information Communications Technology (ICT) by a wider cross section of the society. He said tax collected from incoming calls will now go directly the Universal Access Fund (UAF) for its use in enabling...

Four fully equipped after school centres are slated to be established this year under the GTECH After School Advantage Programme. GTECH’s Country Manager for Jamaica, Ann-Dawn Young Sang, made the announcement on May 17, at the opening of a centre at the Holy Trinity High School in Kingston. She said that in addition to the setting up and outfitting of...

A total of $8.5 million has been allocated in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives, for the Caribbean Hotel Energy and Action Project. The project aims to improve the competitiveness of the Caribbean hotel industry; ensure higher energy efficiency and micro generation through renewable energy programmes; and contribute to compliance with the Montreal...

A sum of $396 million has been allocated in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives, for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Programme. The money will be spent to enhance Jamaica’s energy efficiency and energy conservation potential through the design and implementation of cost savings measures in the public sector. As of March...

Minister with Responsibility for Information in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, is urging young women to arm themselves with a computer and Internet access, in order to explore job opportunities in the lucrative global information communication technology (ICT) sector. Addressing a World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2012 Exhibition, at the Petroleum Corporation of...

A total of 11 individuals and companies have been approved by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM), to supply excess energy to the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS). The group, which include residential and commercial customers, were presented with net billing licences by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, during a meeting of the Jamaica Energy Council...

Petrojam projects a capital expenditure of US$19 million (approximately $1.7 billion) during the 2012/13 financial year, an increase of US$7 million over the previous financial year. This is outlined in the ‘Jamaica Public Bodies: Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the Year Ending March 2013’,  tabled in the House on May 10. According to the Estimates, the budgeted capital works...

As part of efforts to build a sustainable energy efficiency sector, the Government has allocated $20 million to the Developing an Energy Services Company (ESCO) Industry project for this fiscal year. This is contained in the Estimates of Expenditure, now being reviewed by the House of Representatives. Implemented in April 2011 through funding from the European Union and the Government...

As part of the thrust to build an energy efficiency culture in the public sector, the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (MSTEM) has trained the second cohort of energy ambassadors to promote conservation methods. The seven-day training programme was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under a project aimed at developing an energy savings industry in...

A total of $595.8 million has been allocated to the Energy Security and Efficiency Enhancement Project in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives. The project, which got underway in August 2010, aims to promote private sector investment in the energy sector by updating the regulatory framework, preparing projects for investment decisions, and increasing...