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The National Housing Trust (NHT) will allocate $10.6 million to micro-enterprises that are created within its schemes, as part of a special drive to stimulate and build the economy. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, said the funds will be available as prize monies for a Special Small Business Entrepreneurship Award category in the Trust’s Best Schemes Competition....

Government will be moving ahead with plans to relocate the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences (CISOCA), to new and better facilities on Surbiton Road in St. Andrew. The move will free up the valuable Ruthven Road property where the centre is currently located, to be used for housing development. [Read the Prime Minister’s 2013-14 Budget Presentation] Prime Minister,...

Road rehabilitation works being undertaken along the Lawrence Tavern main road in St. Andrew are scheduled for completion within the next four weeks. The project, which commenced in March, is being executed by the National Works Agency (NWA) through a $60 million allocation under the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing’s Hurricane Sandy Road Rehabilitation Programme. Work is to being...

Some 31,000 public sector mortgagors are to benefit from approximately $790 million annually in contribution refunds from the National Housing Trust (NHT), during the next four years. This was announced by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, during her 2013/14 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, April 30. Mrs. Simpson Miller spoke on the...

Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, is reporting a 10 per cent reduction in the energy consumption level at Jamaica House, consequent on the implementation of a $2 billion transformation and efficiency programme, being spearheaded by the Ministry. Making his contribution to the 2013/14 Budget Debate in Parliament on Tuesday, April 24, under the theme: “Fuelling Our...

Beginning in June, the Government will commence accepting bid submissions from investors to develop projects aimed at generating up to 115 megawatts of energy from renewable sources, which could potentially reduce Jamaica’s oil imports expenditure by US$55 million. Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, who made the disclosure during his 2013/14 Budget Debate presentation in Parliament on...

Several infrastructure projects now underway in Granville, St. James, have breathed new life into the community and provided more economic opportunities for the residents. Among the project now being pursued in earnest is the construction and rehabilitation of roadways, bridges, sidewalks and drainage systems as well as a training progamme for new business owners. Some 105 budding entrepreneurs from the...

Director General of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Foundation, David Ward, has lauded Jamaica on its "impressive" road safety model, which he said, can be emulated by other countries. "It's extremely impressive how well you have structured your road safety effort over the last 20 years and it is an exemplar to many other countries of how to do...

The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is the 2013 recipient of the Prince Michael of Kent International Road Safety Award, in recognition of its programmes and activities that have resulted in significant reductions in traffic accidents and fatalities across Jamaica. His Royal Highness, Prince Michael of Kent, presented the award to NRSC Chairperson, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson...

Jamaica’s national coordinating body for road safety promotion, the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is to receive the prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, Member of the British Royal family and Patron of the Awards, will present the Award to the NRSC during his five-day unofficial visit to Jamaica, April 14 to...

The Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing will spearhead a major programme of road and infrastructure improvements, being financed at a cost of approximately $3.9 billion. The allocation, which has been earmarked in the 2013/14 Estimates of Expenditure, is being executed under three components. These include the Road Maintenance Fund (RMF), Jamaica Development Infrastructure programme (JDIP), and Jamaica Emergency Employment...

Some $2.6 million has been earmarked in the 2013/14 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, to facilitate payment of unsettled land claims under the arterial roads programme. The programme seeks to improve 809 kilometres of the island’s network of main roads and highways, which link the 14 parishes, and associated structures, such as bridges, through a programme...