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The Ministry of Health and Environment has received a sum of $100 million from the Ministry of Finance to fund preparatory activities being undertaken to meet the start-up date for the removal of user health fees come April 1. So far, $60 million has been disbursed to the four regional health authorities - North-East, Southern, Western and South-East. According to...

A sum of $2.5 billion has been allocated for the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) - Social Safety Net - in the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The programme aims to: support government's ongoing effort to transform the Social Safety Network into a fiscally sound and more efficient system of social assistance...

The Government will be spending $273.6 million on the Enhancement of Basic Schools project for the 2008/09 financial year. The sum, which has been set aside in the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, is now before the House of Representatives. For the financial year, the project seeks to complete the construction of the following schools and resource centres: St. Catherine Resource...

The Government has set aside $650.37 million in the Estimates of Expenditure to fund the Primary Education Support Project for the 2008/09 financial year. As outlined in the Estimates, now before the House, the project, which is funded by the Government and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), seeks to contribute to the improved performance, efficiency and equity of the Primary...

A total of $339.3 million has been provided for Phase II of the Public Sector Modernization Programme (PSMP) in the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project, which was initially undertaken between April 2003 and March 2006, and extended to March 2008, has been further extended to March 2012.Phase II of the PSMP, which is...

In a bid to further develop the industrial sector, an allocation of $24 million has been provided for the 'Strengthening of Jamaica's National Quality Infrastructure' project. This is outlined in the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The project intends to modernize Jamaica's National Quality Infrastructure; develop a National Quality Policy; complete the Bureau of Standards...

A total of $30.5 million will be spent on the promotion of entrepreneurship under the Productive Integration of Micro-Enterprises in Jamaica/Industry Modernisation Project, as outlined in the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives. The project aims to assist the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to make a meaningful and visible contribution to industrial and...

The Ministry of Education has embarked on a multi-faceted literacy thrust to raise the level of literacy of all children in Jamaica. Several initiatives were introduced in the past with varying degrees of success. Speaking with JIS News, Minister of Education, Andrew Holness said: "With the current focus on a new literacy thrust, and a myriad of supporting programmes, we...

A special service of dedication for Geneive Brown Metzger, newly appointed Consul General of Jamaica in New York, will take place on Sunday, April 13, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Ossining, New York. Host pastor, Rev. Gordon S. Anderson will be the chief celebrant. Mrs. Brown Metzger and husband, Dr. Stephen Metzger are parishioners at...

An urban agricultural initiative, aimed at encouraging homeowners to grow more crops for consumption, is currently underway, with strong support from the Ministry of Agriculture. This was disclosed by Chairman of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Dr. Omer Thomas, at a JIS 'Think Tank,' at the agency's head office in Kingston on March 26. Dr. Thomas explained that special...

The Jamaica Fair Trading Commission (JFTC) Capacity Building project has been allocated $1.8 million in the 2008/09 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The aim of the project is to enhance competition in the Jamaican economy, support the institutional strengthening of the JFTC, and increase awareness with respect to fair competition. The project which began in June...

In keeping with the commitment it made to the Jamaican people, the Government will abolish user fees at public hospitals and health facilities with effect from Tuesday, April 1. This was stated by Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, when he delivered the Throne Speech at the State Opening of Parliament on March 27, which...