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KINGSTON — The Reduction of Fluctuation in Export Earnings (FLEX) project in the Office of the Prime Minister is to receive $88 million this fiscal year to continue rehabilitating parochial roads, and advance the sustainable development of rural communities. As outlined in the  2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the European Union-funded project is aimed at...

MANDEVILLE — The St. Elizabeth Parish Council is moving to have the speed limit for the Holland Bamboo roadway reduced, and the area designated as a safe zone for schools. Mayor of Black River Councillor Jeremy Palmer, said he will ensure that the issue is treated with urgency. The decision came after concerns were raised at a recent sitting of...

MONTEGO BAY — With the 2010/2011 winter tourist season scheduled to close at the end of April, preliminary figures are already showing growth in the number of stop-over visitors.  This is in keeping with the Ministry of Tourism’s projections for a four to five percent growth for the period. Giving the main address at the opening ceremony of the Fourth...

KINGSTON — The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) has indicated marked growth in the local aviation industry and, by extension, tourism, as a result of Government's decision to shift to an Open Skies policy. Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank session, Director General of the JCAA, Colonel Oscar Derby, said the policy shift has already reaped benefits, with a...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Transport and Works will commence revetment work at Roselle, St. Thomas and complete construction of the Hope River Bridge and associated protective works, this fiscal year. Funding of $4.3 billion is being channeled into the Transportation Infrastructure Rehabilitation Programme, which is being funded by the Government of Jamaica and the Inter American Development Bank (IDB)...

KINGSTON — The Government has earmarked $51.6 million for the Support for Decentralised Road Maintenance Programme, which aims to addresses issues related to road maintenance through the expansion of road preservation standards.  The provision has been made in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. Funded by the Jamaican Government and the Inter American Development Bank...

KINGSTON — The Jamaica Railway Corporation says the phased resumption of passenger train service could materialise within a month, after being dormant for nearly 20 years. JRC Chairman, Barry Bonitto, made this disclosure in an interview with JIS News following Saturday's April 16 test run of a reconditioned train between May Pen, Clarendon, and Linstead, St. Catherine. He said that...

Work to rehabilitate the Friday roadway in the Rio Grande Valley area of Portland is in its final stages and the thoroughfare is scheduled to be reopened shortly. The roadway, which provides access to a number of other communities including Ginger House, Comfort Castle, and Mill Bank, became impassable in February 2009, after numerous land slippages resulted in its complete...

MANDEVILLE — The National Works Agency (NWA) is advising that at 5 p.m. Friday April 15, the May Pen Railway Bridge, Main Street, Clarendon, will be closed to pedestrian traffic until Monday (April 18) at 6 a.m. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NWA, Patrick Wong, has advised that repair work on the bridge has started, and heavy equipment will...

MANDEVILLE — Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Mike Henry, says he is satisfied with the progress of road work in Clarendon under the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP). “I am pleased with what I have seen. This contract is performing well,” he said on April 12, following a tour of project areas in the parish of Clarendon. He informed...

MANDEVILLE — Minister of Transport and Works, Hon Mike Henry, has said that the expansion of infrastructural projects across Jamaica will increase economic activity. The Minister said that a number of ongoing or completed projects, including the extension of Highway 2000, are part of Government’s efforts to ensure that the economy grows. “The expansion will facilitate the connection between the...

Jamaica has put in place administrative arrangements with the Honorary Consul of Jamaica in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, that will simplify the issuing of multiple-entry visas. Cabinet last month noted that the Honorary Cousul is now authorised to issue multiple-entry visas valid for six months to bona fide business persons from Haiti. The previous process required approval from the Ministry of National Security. The announcement was...