Work to construct the Montego Bay perimeter road (bypass) will commence in the 2019/2020 fiscal year with a $500-million allocation. The sum is set aside in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project aims to create a safe and reliable alternative route for motorists travelling within and across Montego Bay, resulting in reduced traffic...

The Government has allocated another $586.4 million to continue work on 44 kilometres of roads in St. Mary and St. Ann under the Road Rehabilitation Project II. The project, which was initiated in April 2017, entails repairing the 13.6-kilometre roadway from Toms River to Broadgate, and 14.8 kilometres between Broadgate and Agualta Vale in St. Mary, and the 15-kilometre Alexandria...

The Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) is to launch scholarships for young persons in its greenhouse cluster areas, called the JBI/Alcan Rio Tinto Legacy Fund Scholarship Programme. The programme was created to facilitate sustainability for the JSIF/JBI Water Harvesting and Greenhouse Cluster Project, which is administered under the Bauxite Community Development Programme (BCDP). In an interview with JIS News, Director of...

Implementation of the first phase of the privatisation of the rail service from Montego Bay to Appleton will be pursued in the new financial year. Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, made the disclosure as he delivered the Throne Speech at the ceremonial opening of the 2019/20 legislative year in Gordon House on February 14. He said...

The Government has set aside $500,000 to develop a national repository in the Ministry of Transport and Mining. The trifold repository will comprise the Transport Statistics Database, Transport Research Databank, and the Geographic Information System (GIS) database. Funding for the undertaking has been made available in the 2019/2020 Estimates of Expenditure, which was tabled in the House of Representatives on...

Orthopaedic surgeon at the St. Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital, Dr. Cary Fletcher, is highlighting the need for motorbike riders and pillion passengers to wear lower-limb protective gear. Some common protective equipment, worn by competitive and recreational bikers, include specially made pants with built-in kneecap protectors, boots to safeguard the legs, knee braces and guards, armoured shorts and pants, among others....

Come April 1, all drivers in the public transportation system will be required to wear uniforms. This is the directive from Transport and Mining Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, who says the stipulation will help to bring order and discipline to the sector. “We have an opportunity to change the face of this industry... we are moving to chart a new...

Starting February 18, the Transport Authority will be suspending the road licences of public passenger vehicle operators having 10 outstanding traffic tickets, or warrants. This, according to Transport and Mining Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, who said redeeming these is a condition for renewals. “Those persons who have tickets and ignore the lawful command of the police, you’re going to feel...

The United States (US) Government has lifted the sanctions on Windalco parent company, UC Rusal, effective January 27, 2019. This was disclosed by Minister of Transport and Mining, Hon. Robert Montague, during a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday (February 5). He noted that US President, Donald Trump, had indicated his intention to lift the sanctions in December...