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18 COMMUNITY PROJECTS RECEIVE $84.92 MILLION IN GRANTS

Friday, 10 February 2017

KINGSTON, Jan. 30 (JIS):

            Eighteen community-based organisations and civil society groups have been awarded grants totalling $84.92 million to implement climate change adaptation and resilience-building projects across the island.

            The grant awards, of up to $5 million each, were provided by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ), which is the fund administrator for the Special Climate Change Adaptation Fund (SCCAF).

US WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT JAMAICA’S ENERGY PROGRAMME

Friday, 10 February 2017

MONTEGO BAY, Jan. 31 (JIS):

            Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Jamaica, Maura Barry, says the United States government will continue to give full support to Jamaica and other Caribbean countries to become energy independent.

            Addressing a recently held energy-efficiency training workshop for members of the hotel sector at the Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay, St. James, Ms. Barry said support will also be given to efforts aimed at reducing greenhouse gases as well as other energy-efficient initiatives.

AGD IMPROVES SERVICE TO PENSIONERS

Friday, 10 February 2017

KINGSTON, Jan. 30 (JIS):

            The Accountant General’s Department (AGD) has introduced a number of initiatives to improve service delivery to Government pensioners.

            Accountant General, Carlene Murdoch, told JIS News that the most recent initiative introduced late last year is a receipt system that helps to improve efficiency in processing pensioners’ life certificates and ensure the timely delivery of pensions.

HOUSE APPROVES ORDER FOR NEW PERSONAL INCOME TAX THRESHOLD

Friday, 10 February 2017

KINGSTON, Feb. 01 (JIS):

            The House of Representatives on Tuesday (January 31) approved the Provisional Collection of Tax (Income Tax) (No.2) Order 2016.

            The Order, which was piloted by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, will allow the new personal income tax threshold to remain in effect.

AGD URGES CIVIL SERVANTS TO ENSURE DOCUMENTS ARE UPDATED

Friday, 10 February 2017

KINGSTON, Feb. 2 (JIS):

            The Accountant General’s Department (AGD) is urging civil servants close to the age of retirement to ensure that all their documents are updated to minimise delays in receiving their pension.

             Client Services Manager at the AGD, Tanisha Weir Grant, told JIS News that Ministries, Departments and Agencies are being strongly encouraged to invite the AGD to speak with this group of persons to ensure that they have the necessary information to begin the process.

GOVERNMENT REASSURES SMALL BUSINESS OPERATORS

Friday, 10 February 2017

KINGSTON, Feb. 2 (JIS):

State Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Senator the Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., says the Government remains committed to creating a safe environment for small business operators.

Speaking at a Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) Biz Social, held on January 31 at the offices of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) in Kingston,

 Mr. Charles said the Government continues its effort to manage criminal activities.

JAMAICA CUSTOMS AGENCY URGED TO IDENTIFY OPTIONS TO IMPROVE SERVICE

Tuesday, 31 January 2017

KINGSTON, Jan. 24 (JIS):

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, is challenging the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) to identify options for improving customs activities, in order to optimise the Agency’s capacity for revenue collection.

Noting that efficient customs procedures and processes are important elements in the Government’s drive for economic growth, Mr. Shaw said the JCA must be keen to maximise the detection of revenue leakage while also maintaining trade facilitation.

PUBLIC ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR 763,798 STUDENTS

Tuesday, 31 January 2017

KINGSTON, Jan. 24 (JIS):

            The Government provides public access to education for approximately 763,798 students or 71 per cent of the school age cohort (3-24).

          Of this total, 613,136 students are enrolled across 3,000 pre-primary, 995 primary and preparatory schools and 180 high schools, both public and private.                                               

This was disclosed by Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, while addressing an Education World Forum in London, United Kingdom (UK), today (January 24).