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The largest airline out of The Bahamas, Western Air, made its inaugural flight to Jamaica today (April 12) landing at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in Kingston with 24 passengers. Captain Busch Armbrister piloted the SAAB 340A aircraft from the Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassua, which landed at about 11:30 a.m. to the usual watery welcome given at...

Air Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines have agreed on a new takeover deadline of April 30, pushed back from the previous target of April 12. Air Jamaica's President and CEO, Bruce Nobles In a release issued Wednesday (April 7), Chairman of Air Jamaica, Hon. Dennis Lalor, said the national carrier had agreed to the extension, to ensure that sufficient time is...

Programmes being undertaken by the Ministry of Transport and Works to improve road safety have been boosted through a $31.7 million allocation. As contained in the Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives, $13 million will go to the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) to carry out necessary work, as it seeks to upgrade the working environment and physical...

Repairs will continue to primary and all-age schools, which were damaged by Tropical Storm Gustav, through a $53.2 million allocation to the Schools Rehabilitation Project in the Ministry of Education. As stated in the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives, the allocation will continue works under phases one and two of the project. So...

Commercial air operators, who fly to Jamaica, will no longer have to pay fees for services provided by the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA). These include fees for air navigation, communications, air operators' certificates and a number of other charges contained in the 22nd Schedule of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Regulations. The move is part of ongoing efforts to boost...

Transport and Works Minister, Hon Mike Henry, has ordered immediate maritime and airport probes, respectively, into Saturday evening's boat tragedy off the island's south coast, and a false fire alarm at the Norman Manley International Airport today, which delayed a number of flights. Minister of Transport and Works, the Hon Mike Henry The minister has mandated Director General of the...

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) has explained that the current state of some of its buses on the roads is primarily due to the drought conditions, and the consequent water restrictions. In a release on the issue over the weekend, the JUTC's Corporate Communications Manager, Reginald Allen, stated: "In response to queries about the outward state of some Jamaica...

Approximately 9.6 kilometres of flood-damaged farm roads in five parishes will be repaired this fiscal year, as work continues under the Reduction of Fluctuation in Export Exchange project. The parishes in which the work will be undertaken are Hanover, St. James, St. Catherine, Trelawny, and St. Ann. A sum of $128 million has been allotted for the project in the...

The Government has set aside $1.6 billion in the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditure, to carry out Tropical Storm Gustav rehabilitation works during the new fiscal year, which begins on April 1. This project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Works, aims to rehabilitate, restore and protect critical sections of physical infrastructure in the island, to improve...

The Bogue Road Rehabilitation Project in the Ministry of Transport and Works is to receive $500 million in the 2010/11 fiscal year to support the North Coast Highway Improvement Project, through the upgrading of the Bogue Road. This will reduce the current traffic congestion and improve the level of safety on that corridor. As set out in the Estimates of...

The 2010/11 Budget includes the provision of $166 million for the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Weight Limit Enforcement programme in the Ministry of Transport and Works. The money is to be used to start construction of three weigh stations; complete the Harbour Head Weigh Station; and substantially complete the other two weigh stations, as well as complete all programmed platforms...

The Government has cut planned importation of new buses from Belgium in 2010/11 by 50%, but the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) is expected to fill a large portion of the gap with newly refurbished buses. The 2010/11 Budget which was tabled in Parliament on Thursday (March 25) by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, the Hon Audley Shaw,...