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An allocation of $385 million has been set aside in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, in support of the Government’s efforts to improve the nation's roadways. The initiative falls under the Road Improvement Programme, which is being funded by the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Jamaica. The project, which began...

Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Dr. Omar Davies, is reporting that Government’s effort to reduce the number of deaths on the roads has resulted in a 20 per cent drop in fatal accidents since the start of the year. “Our commitment to road safety is clear and unambiguous, and we are beginning to see the benefits, as through...

Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Dr. Omar Davies, is expected to make an announcement soon as to how the government intends to clear some $11 billion in debt owed by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC). Dr. Davies, who disclosed the extent of the debt on May 1, during the debate on a motion brought to the House...

The Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in Kingston on April 30 welcomed its first WestJet international flight from Toronto, Canada, with 136 passengers onboard. The Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft landed at approximately 12:05 p.m. to applause and cheers from the welcome party, headed by Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeil, which witnessed its arrival from the NMIA’s...

Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Dr. Omar Davies, is defending the decision to establish an Independent Oversight Panel (IOP), which will, among other things, monitor three critical infrastructure projects. In a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday (April 24), Dr. Davies announced that Cabinet had given the go ahead for the continuation of three projects- the...

Cabinet has approved the establishment of an Independent Oversight Panel (IOP) to expand the framework for the monitoring of contracts. Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Professor Gordon Shirley will chair the body, and the other members are Retired Territory Senior Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Everton McDonald; and businessman the Hon. R. Danny Williams....

The Government has decided to take the necessary steps towards the implementation of three major infrastructure works, which are critical to the country's future development. The three projects are the North-South link of Highway 2000; the Gordon Cay Container Transshipment Hub; and the Fort Augusta Terminal. Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Dr. Omar Davies, made the disclosure in...

The Government is going after some $2 billion it is owed in outstanding traffic fines over the next six months. The process will be facilitated through the Road Traffic (Temporary Ticket Amnesty) Act, 2012, which was passed on April 24 in the House of Representatives. Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, who opened the debate, said that because of...

The Government, after assuming office on January 5, handed over more titles to  Jamaicans  for their  houses, with the presentation of titles to 12 Trench Town residents, in Kingston, by the National Housing Trust (NHT), in February. The titles were presented by Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Hon. Dr. Omar Davies and Managing Director, NHT, Cecile Watson, during a...

A Bill, seeking a six-month amnesty for the collection of billions of dollars in unpaid traffic tickets, was tabled on April 17 in the House of Representatives. The Bill, Road Traffic (Temporary Ticket Amnesty) Act, 2012 was tabled by Leader of Government Business in the Lower House, Hon. Phillip Paulwell. It will facilitate the collection of fines for unpaid and...

Vice Chairman, National Road Safety Council (NRSC), Dr. Lucien Jones, says the new traffic ticketing system has been achieving significant success since its implementation. "We have a new ticketing system and already over 700,000 tickets have been issued within the last 18 months, worth $1.6 billion, and of that, $682 million has been collected and if we look at what...

Approximately 70 unfinished housing units in Oak Glades,South West St. Andrew are to be sold, informed Minister with responsibility for Housing, Hon. Dr. Morais Guy. The units were started over 10 years ago by the National Housing Development Corporation, now the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ) Limited. Minister Guy, who was speaking with JIS News following a tour of sections...