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KINGSTON — Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw has announced a reduction in the Common External Tariff  (CET) on motor vehicles, as part of measures to stimulate the industry. Opening the 2011/12 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on April 28, Mr. Shaw informed that effective May 2, 2011, the CET applicable to motor cars,...

KINGSTON — The Royal Caribbean cruise ship, 'Allure of the Seas', made its third stop at the newly constructed Falmouth cruise ship pier in Trelawny on Wednesday April 27,  bringing more than 8,000 passengers and crew. Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Michael Henry, was on hand to greet the vessel, and participate in an exchange of gifts with Captain...

KINGSTON — There has never been a programme more transparent than the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP), Transport and Works Minister, Hon. Michael Henry, said yesterday April 27 at a press briefing at Jamaica House. Mr. Henry called the briefing in response to a walk-out of Parliament by Opposition members during last week’s examination of the budgetary allocation for his...

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...