Government of Jamaica Year in Review 2017

1 ACHIEVEMENTS 2017 – STRONG PERFORMANCE – Building prosperity through partnership
ACHIEVEMENTS 2017
Strong Performance
Building prosperity through
partnership
4
3
• Record Employment – 1.2M Persons – 2 • Gov’t Safeguarding Energy Security – 18

INSIDE • JCF’s Intelligence Gathering Capabilities Enhanced – 9 • Jamaica Strengthens Links Abroad – 22
• Hundreds Employed as JISCO Alpart Resumes Full Operations – 15 • Jamaica Celebrates 55 – 29
Record Employment – 1.2M Persons

A
record number of per- Government’s commitment • 1,216,200 persons were The figure represented an • The overall labour force
sons were employed in to create more employment employed as at July increase of 29,200 per- rose by 8,000 persons to
2017, reinforcing the opportunities for Jamaicans. 2017. sons relative to July 2016. 1,371,300 as at July 2017.
Cont’d on page 3
Jamaicans employed in various sectors.
Making Home Ownership Easier
T
he Government made
changes to its housing
policy, to make home
ownership a reality for more
Jamaicans.
• The National Housing Trust
(NHT) loan ceiling was
increased from $4.5 million
to $5.5 million; interest
rates on mortgages for
lower-income groups
reduced; 100 per cent
financing for all NHT units
implemented; home
grants improved; special
grant of $150,000 for
persons with disabilities,
to retrofit their houses.
• Ground broken for 13
housing developments
under the NHT.
• Housing Schemes in
progress include Ruthven
Towers, St. Andrew;
Colbeck Castle 1 and 2 in
Clarendon/St. Catherine;
Longville 2A and Mony-
musk 2 in Clarendon;
Barham, Darliston,
Masemure, Yeast Plant
and Shrewsbury in Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness with beneficiaries of Nashville Mews in St. Mary.
Westmoreland; and The
Estuary and Cashew aica (HAJ), broke ground • NHT and HAJ delivered • NHT and HAJ handed 44 Operation Pride
Grove in St. James. for phase two Luana Gar- a total of 164 housing over 607 certificates of schemes islandwide.
Housing Agency of Jam- dens in St. Elizabeth. solutions. title to beneficiaries in Cont’d on page 3
A production of the Jamaica Information Service January 21, 2018

ACHIEVEMENTS 2017 – STRONG PERFORMANCE – Building prosperity through partnership 3
Record Employment… cont’d from page 2

HOPE Restored grammes delivered by JSIF Continues to
• More than 14,000 young the JDF’s five Centres of Transform Lives
persons benefited from Excellence. • 165 persons from 30
the Housing, Opportunity, underserved commu-
• JDF Coast Guard nities were trained as
Production and Employ- received two new mari-
ment (HOPE) programme, environmental wardens.
time offshore surveillance
which provides edu- vessels to increase its • A one-year MOU was
cational and job oppor- activities in protecting signed between JSIF and
tunities for unattached the island’s borders. the Registrar General’s
youth aged 18 to 24. Department (RGD) to as-
Zone of Special sist 4,200 residents of 18
• Under the National Service communities spanning
Corps (NSC) component Operations (ZOSO)
• To aggressively tackle seven parishes to obtain
of the programme, almost birth certificates.
2,000 young persons crime, the first ZOSO
received military, voca- was established on Sep- • 3,500 persons in 30
tional and life skills training tember 1, Mount Salem communities received
Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (right) listens to
from the Jamaica Defence and its environs, under mosquito nets and lid
one of the first 250 recruits under the National Service Corps
Force (JDF). the Law Reform (Zones covers for water storage
which is part of the Hope, Opportunity, Production and Employment
(HOPE) initiative.
of Special Operations) containers.
• The National Youth Summer (Special Security and
Employment Programme, • JSIF officially handed over
vided with a randomised technical plans to develop Community Development the St. Paul’s United
accepted 2,300 young nine-digit National Identifi- a ‘Centre of Government’ Measures) Act. Church Early Childhood
persons over a four-week cation Number (NIN), to include a Parliament Institution building which
period. They audited The law seeks to contain
which he/she will have for building at National was reconstructed at a
street lights and identi- crime while safeguarding
life. Heroes Park. The MOU cost of $45.3 million.
fied vulnerable persons. the human rights of residents
will see the establishment
• The Administration and promoting community • A sum of $3 million was
• HOPE Mentorship Pro- of a model for a purpose-
launched the GOV.JM development through allocated to the Jamaica
gramme was launched built space to house the Constabulary Force (JCF)
online portal to make social intervention
over 100 mentors recruited. Jamaican Parliament, for the staging of several
doing business with initiatives.
Ministries, Departments two-week summer camps
Improving Service Government easier,
and Agencies, Jamaican • The second ZOSO was targeting 700 at-risk youth.
Delivery reduce cost and improve
museum, and other com- declared in Denham It supported five residen-
• Passage of the National efficiency. It is a one-stop
shop for Government- mercial and residential Town, West Kingston. tial summer camps across
Identification and buildings. the 18 communities that
related information and • During the operations,
Registration Bill, to pave fall under the Integrated
services. JDF Capabilities eight illegal weapons
the way for improved Community Development
delivery of services. • Government signed a Boosted were seized. Programme (ICDP).
memorandum of under- • Directorate of Training
Under the National Identi- standing (MOU) with China and Doctrine opened at
fication System (NIDS), the JDF headquarters to Cover Photos:
Construction America
each citizen will be pro- (CCA) for the drafting of streamline training pro- PIC. 1: Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness
interacts with students during a tour of the Monymusk
Sugar Factory.
PIC. 2: The Prime Minister presents a citation to the late
Violet Mosse-Brown (right), who was the world’s oldest
living person.
PIC. 3: PM Holness (2nd right) breaks ground for the
development of a US$30 million Integrated Technology
Park in Kingston, dubbed ‘58HWT’.
PIC. 4: The Prime Minister (right) ‘tests’ the water at the
commissioning of the Palmetto Pen/Breadnut Bottom/
Rosewell water supply system in Clarendon. Minister
without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth
and Job Creation, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang (2nd left);
Chairman of the National Water Commission (NWC),
Senator Aubyn Hill (3rd left), and a resident look on.
PIC. 5: Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (centre)
and Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister and
Prime Minister Holness (2nd left) greets a member of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) on duty in Member of Parliament for Central St. Catherine, Hon. Olivia
the Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) in Mount Salem, St. James. At left is Attorney General and Grange (2nd right), with new homeowners at Berkshire
Member of Parliament for West Central St. James, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte. Court in Spanish Town, St. Catherine.
Gains in Economic Reform Programme

J
amaica’s Economic Re- during her two-day working
form Programme (ERP) visit to Jamaica.
remains on track, following
notable out-turns in 2017. Multilateral Support
Jamaica continued to
• Growth in Net Inter- benefit from additional funding
national Reserves (NIR) to from other multilateral organi-
over US$3.1 billion sations.
covering an estimated
22.6 weeks of goods and • A joint US$30 million loan
services imports. from the Japan Inter-
national Cooperation Agency
• Better than targeted Cen- (JICA) and Inter-American
tral Government Primary Development Bank (IDB)
Surplus, at seven per for the Energy Management
cent of gross domestic and Efficiency Programme.
product (GDP), amounting
to over $48.6 billion. • US$7.52 million grant under
Caribbean Development
• Second quarter fiscal Bank’s Basic Needs Trust
year growth of 0.9 per Fund (BNTF) to finance Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (2nd right) emphasises a point to International
cent. projects in education, Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Christine Lagarde (centre), during a reception at the
• Further decline in the transportation, enterprise Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, for officials attending the sixth IMF High Level Caribbean
debt to 115 per cent of development, and water Forum in November. From left are Finance and Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw; State
GDP, down from 120 per and sanitation. Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams; and Chairman of the Forum’s Organising Committee, Ambassador
cent in 2016. Dr. Nigel Clarke.
• US$20 million IDB loan
• Inflation of 4.7 per cent to further boost the Credit • €6.5 million European December, showing the Financial Inclusion
up to the end of October. Enhancement Facility (CEF) Union (EU) grant to assist Budget moving to $805.4 Strategy
for micro, small and medium- the Government in further billion, an increase of • A National Financial
Successful Reviews reducing poverty and $89.8 billion. Inclusion Strategy inten-
sized enterprises.
• Jamaica passed the improving the living stan- ded to improve Jamaica’s
International Monetary • US$70 million World Bank dards of residents in More Income Tax Relief financial system by 2020
Fund’s (IMF) first two loan to spur growth while sugar-dependent areas. • The personal income tax was crafted. Jamaicans,
biannual reviews under enhancing Jamaica’s threshold was increased particularly those previ-
the US$1.64 billion Pre- global competitiveness. Budget to $1.5 million on April 1. ously underserved by the
cautionary Stand-by • The 2017/18 Estimates of Nearly 400,000 persons domestic financial system,
Arrangement (PSBA). • US$12.58 million grant Expenditure, totalling are able to save safely
from the Government of on the Pay As You Earn
• Managing Director, IMF, $715.6 billion, was tabled. (PAYE) falling below the and build resilience
Japan to procure equip-
Christine Lagarde, reaf- ment for the ‘Improvement threshold were exempted against shocks.
• The first Supplementary
firmed her personal of Emergency Commu- from paying the tax.
Estimates was tabled in LAVCA Ranking
endorsement of the ERP nication System Project’. • Jamaica climbed to 8th
on the Latin American
Private Equity and Ven-
ture Capital Association
(LAVCA) 2017/18 Score-
card. This reflected a
five-point improvement in
the country’s score, which
increased to 51.
TAJ/ICAJ MOU
• Tax Administration Jam-
aica (TAJ) and the Insti-
tute of Chartered Acco-
untants of Jamaica (ICAJ)
signed a Memorandum
of Understanding to
strengthen their collabo-
ration on tax-related
matters. This facilitated
the establishment of a
Finance and Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (left), Finance and Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (left) and Consultative Committee
and Senior Vice President, Japan International Cooperation General Manager, Country Department, Caribbean Group, IDB, to provide a forum for
Agency (JICA), Shigeru Maeda (2nd left), sign a US$15 million Therese Turner-Jones, display a copy of the US$15 million loan dialogue between the
loan agreement for the Energy Management and Efficiency Pro- agreement to support the Government’s Energy Management entities’ senior officials
gramme. and Efficiency Programme. on wide-ranging issues.
Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew

Holness (left) observes as Chairman,
Jamaica Special Economic Zone
Authority, Metry Seaga, shows him an
artist's impression of a Special Economic
Zone. Occasion was the inaugural
Jamaica International Exhibition Trade
Show at the Montego Bay Convention
Centre in June. At 2nd left is Industry,
Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries,
Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness (3rd right)

officially opens the US$5.537 million Kupius Bridge
in Pennants, Clarendon, which was built by China
Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) under the
Major Infrastructure Development Programme
(MIDP). From left are: Economic and Commercial
Counsellor at the Embassy of China, Fan Jianghong;
Speaker of the House of Representatives and North
Central Clarendon Member of Parliament, Hon.
Pearnel Charles Sr.; Permanent Secretary in the
Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation,
Audrey Sewell; Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica,
His Excellency Niu Qingbao; Chief Executive Officer,
National Works Agency, E.G. Hunter; and Deputy
General Manager at CHEC, Dr. Zhimin Hu.
Member of Parliament for East Rural

St. Andrew, the Most Hon. Mrs. Juliet
Holness (4th left), reaps strawberries with
students from St. Jude’s and Seaview
Gardens Primary Schools at the farm of
Fitzroy Mais (3rd right) in Mavis Bank.
Boom in Business Process Outsourcing
T
he Government under the • Work began on the improve-
Ministry of Economic ment of 4.8 kilometres of
Growth and Job Creation main road from Agualta
capitalised on the boom in Vale to Broadgate in St.
the business process out- Mary under a J$597 million
sourcing (BPO) industry, facili- contract with Surrey
tating a number of investments Paving and Aggregate
to create increased job oppor- Company Limited.
tunities for Jamaicans.
• Work was done in eight
Job Creation sections of St. Elizabeth
• In late September, Prime as part of a $7.7 million
Minister the Most Hon. National Works Agency
Andrew Holness broke (NWA) hot mix patching
ground for a US$30 million programme.
technology park in Kingston.
Dubbed ‘58HWT’, the • The Government spent
park will have the largest $3.6 billion on 24 medium-
BPO facility in the English- sized road projects,
speaking Caribbean, pro- including the Mona Road
viding 3,300 call centre Rehabilitation and Drainage
seats and more than Improvement Project,
5,000 permanent jobs. Sandy Gully repairs and
Ocho Rios bypass.
• The Prime Minister broke
ground for construction Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (right) is accompanied by General Manager of • A sum of $1.33 billion
of the Excellence Group’s Alorica, Clarence Cardwell, on a tour of the business process outsourcing company, formerly West was allotted through the
Oyster Bay Hotel in Corporation, which operates out of the Portmore Informatics Park in St. Catherine. Alorica Road Maintenance Fund
has more than 1,000 employees within the park. (RMF) to carry out routine
Trelawny. It will provide
2,200 jobs for Jamaicans Caribbean (LAC) region US$64 million. It is 74 under the Constant Spring maintenance and rehabili-
during the building and to have implemented per cent complete. Road Improvement Project. tation programmes.
operation phases. more than one business • In December, the Gov- • Design was finalised for
reform. The country also
• The Government allocated
The US$110 million project ernment signed a con- the US$18 million Ferris J$2 billion to undertake
ranked in the top 50 tract valued US$19.175 Cross to Mackfield islandwide rehabilitation
is being undertaken by worldwide in business million to improve 20 Improvement Project in
the Excellence Group.
processes such as starting kilometres of main roads Westmoreland. Cont’d on page 7
• Special Investment Am- a business, getting credit
bassador to India, Senator and resolving insolvency.
Aubyn Hill, was appointed Roadworks
as the new Executive • Work was completed on
Director of the Economic the widening of Marcus
Growth Council (EGC). Garvey Drive in Kingston
He is tasked with managing at a cost of US$20.5
million. In October, the
the administrative affairs
Prime Minister officially
of the Council, which deal opened the corridor
with coordinating projects between East Avenue
that help to spur growth. and Harbour Street.
Growth • The US$4.4-million Bar-
• In November, the Planning bican Road upgrading
Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) works began in August
reported that GDP grew and is 30 per cent com-
by an estimated 0.9 per plete. This undertaking
cent for the July to Sep- also involves a sewerage
tember quarter.
and water pipe installation
Improved Business upgrade project valued at
Climate US$1.04 million, which is
now 80 per cent complete. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz
• The World Bank’s Doing (2nd left), examines a bag of castor beans shown to him by Project Director for the Jamaica Baptist
Business Report (DBR) • Work continued on the Union (JBU) Grow Castor Bean Project, Dr. Judith Johnston (2nd right). Occasion was the official
2017 named Jamaica Mandela Highway Improve- launch of the initiative at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew. Looking on (from left) are
among nine countries in ment project, valued at Chief of Operations at the Jamaica National Bank, Janice Robinson Longmore; and JBU General
the Latin American and Secretary, Rev. Karl Johnson.
Boom in Business Process… cont’d from page 6

of parish council, farm • A US$43.9 million con-
and main roads. tract was signed with
German company, Diehl
Water/Sewerage Projects Metering, to supply
• The Warsop/John Daggy 450,000 solid state water
Water Supply System in meters to the National
Trelawny, the irrigation Water Commission for
system in the Duff House/ installation islandwide.
New Forest area of Man-
chester, and the Palmeto Protecting the Country’s
Pen/Breadnut Bottom/ Forest Reserves
Rosewell Water Supply • The boundary of the
Project in Clarendon were Cockpit Country and of
commissioned into service. the Cockpit Country
Protected Area was
• The Government awarded announced. This margin
a contract to VINCI Con- will be declared and
struction Grands Projets, gazetted.
based in France, to under-
take work on the Port Logistics Hub
Antonio Sewerage and • The Logistics Hub Master
Drainage Project (Stage 2) Plan and Market Analysis
over a 16-month period. was completed. This
document will serve as
• Work continued on the the developmental road
J$131.9 million Bay Farm map to establish Jamaica
Villa Sewerage Project in as a global logistics hub.
West Central St. Andrew
to replace the 40 year-old Climate Change
waste-water treatment • 18 community-based
plant. organisations and civil
Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (2nd right), along with Tourism Minister, Hon.
Edmund Bartlett (left), and Chief Executive Officer of the Excellence Group, Monserrate Amengual
(right), breaks ground for construction of the Excellence Group’s Oyster Bay Hotel in Blue Waters,
Trelawny, in March. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation,
Hon. Daryl Vaz; and Member of Parliament for Southern Trelawny, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert look on.
society groups were to strengthen the island's implement climate change
awarded grants totalling capacity to develop and response strategy.
$84.92 million to implement
climate change adaptation
and resilience-building
projects across the island.
• An Increasing Access to
Climate-smart Agriculture
(IACA) programme was
launched, which aims to
train persons in aqua-
ponics.
• Communities in upper
Clarendon benefited from
a US$783,000 Climate
Change Adaptation pro-
gramme, courtesy of the
Environmental Health
Foundation (EHF). The
initiative is to increase
production and improve
the livelihood of farmers
State Minister with responsibility for Works in the Office of the
in the communities that Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth
Prime Minister, Hon. Everald Warmington (2nd left), speaks with are prone to disasters. and Job Creation, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang (right), discusses
Member of Parliament for North Central Clarendon, Pearnel • Jamaica received a aspects of plans for the Port Antonio sewerage and drainage
Charles Sr. (centre), while touring areas in the parish that were US$300,000 grant from project with Country Manager, VINCI Construction Grands Pro-
damaged by heavy rains in May. At left is Labour and Social the United Nations (UN) jets, Timothee Delebarre, at the contract signing ceremony
Security Minister, Hon. Shahine Robinson. Green Climate Fund (GCF) at the Office of the Prime Minister.
Social Safety Net Strengthened

T
he Ministry of Labour and Nations Children’s Fund
Social Security continued (UNICEF) and Digicel
to make provisions for the Foundation partnered on
society’s most vulnerable. This a two-year $58 million
was achieved by significantly project that will bolster
boosting benefits under the the registration of chil-
Programme for Advancement dren with disabilities to
Through Health and Education improve their access to
(PATH), improving services for social services from the
special needs children, and JCPD.
enhancing education and
training for persons with dis- • The Social and Economic
abilities. Inclusion of Persons with
Disabilities Project was
PATH launched to provide training
• The Government increased to PATH beneficiaries with
the allocation to PATH by disabilities; about $130
47 per cent. This repre- million was allocated in
sented a $3.68 billion the 2017/18 Estimates of
increase in the 2017/18 Expenditure for the
Budget and which project.
boosted the total provision
to $11.47 billion. Senior Citizens
• Basic benefits increased • Tribute was paid to the
by 30 per cent, which late supercentenarian
moved the individual Violet Brown, who, at 117
monthly allocation from years, was the oldest per-
$400 to $600 per child. son in the world. She was
presented with the Prime Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Shahine Robinson (right), tours the Stimulation-Plus
• About $115 million was Minister’s Medal of Appreci-
allocated to provide trans- Early Childhood Development Centre in Rockfort, Kingston, where ground was broken for
ation. Mrs. Brown passed expansion of the facility. Accompanying her are Director of the Early Stimulation Programme,
portation for students. A away in September.
further $120 million in bur- Antonica Gunter Gayle (left); Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Colette Roberts Risden
(2nd left); and students and staff of the facility.
saries and grants was Labour
provided for students grad- • The Occupational, Safety
uating from secondary to and Health (OSH) Bill was
tertiary institutions. An tabled in Parliament.
additional $100 million
was allocated for students • 2,000 persons were
at tertiary institutions. placed in jobs through
the Labour Market Infor-
• Seventeen tertiary-level mation System (LMIS).
students were awarded An additional, 3,700
scholarships totalling vacancies were identified
$15 million. and 6,000 individuals
Special Needs referred for employment.
• The Government • Ground was broken for
upgraded the Early Stim- construction of the Min-
ulation Programme (ESP) istry’s new St. Ann Parish
Assesment Centre in Office at a cost of $513
Kingston through an $86 million.
million provision from the
Inter-American Develop- Overseas Employment
ment Bank (IDB). Programmes
• The Stimulation-Plus • 9,326 persons benefited
Early Childhood Develop- under the Canadian farm,
ment Centre (STIM- factory, skilled and low-
PLUS) benefited from a skilled workers pro-
$70 million expansion of grammes.
its facilities.
• The United States hotel Labour and Social Security Minister, Hon. Shahine Robinson (right), makes a presentation to
• The Jamaica Council for and farm work pro-
Persons with Disabilities Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) scholar, Chedukia Langley,
grammes employed 6, 610 at PATH’s 15th anniversary awards ceremony.
(JCPD), the United persons up to November.
JCF’s Intelligence Gathering Capabilities Enhanced

I
mprovement of the Jam- • Seven hundred pieces of
aica Constabulary Force’s riot gear, valued at
(JCF) intelligence gathering US$90,000, were donated
and operational capabilities, by the United States
and strengthening social Government.
interventions to contain crime
and violence were among the • The Regional Drug
National Security Ministry’s Enforcement Training
major achievements. Centre (REDTRAC)
launched an interactive
Intelligence Network website, to provide infor-
• The forensic capabilities mation on the entity’s
were boosted with the projects and programmes.
acquisition of a
BULLETRAX-3D System Training
by the Institute of Forensic • A total of 450 policemen
Science and Legal and women were trained
Medicine. in conflict resolution to
better enable them to
• The National Deoxyri- respond to domestic
bonucleic Acid (DNA) violence.
Registry was established,
making it easier to posi- • More than 200 volunteer
tively identify the real National Security Minister, Hon. Robert Montague (centre), signs a Memorandum of Understanding pastors and JCF peer
perpetrators of crime. for the University of the West Indies, Mona, to train Jamaica Constabulary Force recruits. Others counsellors were trained
signing (from left) are Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UWI, Professor Archibald McDonald; in Domestic Violence
• The databases of the and Deputy Police Commissioner, Clifford Blake. Standing is UWI Campus Registrar, Camille Bell Intervention.
Firearm Licensing Authority, Hutchinson.
Department of Correc- • Members of the Joint
tional Services, Private
• Three mobile apps were accommodate more JCF Strengthening Operational ZOSO Task Force
Security Regulation developed to revolu- recruits. Capacity and Border received human rights
Authority, Jamaica Con- tionise policing. They are • Approximately 10 mobile Security and social development
stabulary Force, and Jamaica Eye, Jampol police stations were • Three new marine bases training.
Jamaica Defence Force Stats, and e-policing. deployed to crime hotspots. were established at
were merged. Rocky Point, Clarendon; • Thirty-two correctional
Refurbished Police • A total of $4.5 million was James Bond Beach, St. officers benefited from
• The Ministry partnered Stations/Posts/Training spent to refurbish three Mary; and Alligator Pond, NVQ-J scholarships
with telecommunications Facilities police stations on Labour Manchester. valued over $1.2 million,
companies Digicel and • A total of 197 police sta- Day, with support from while another 20 received
Flow to make the Stay tions are being repaired, the NCB Foundation. • A King Air surveillance specialised tactical training
Alert application (app) These were Vineyard Town airplane was purchased to improve security in the
of which 17 have been to provide additional
automatically available completed. Two dormito- in Kingston, Summit in prisons.
on smartphones. St. James and Alligator border protection and
ries were refurbished at Pond in Manchester. security. • An additional 20 officers
• The JCF began using the National Police Col-
WhatsApp in its crime • A total of 401 motor vehi- were trained in green-
lege of Jamaica (NPCJ), • The Ocho Rios Police house technology.
fighting efforts. The while four were built at Station received a new cles and 36 motorcycles
number is 876-564-6840. Harman Barracks to stand-by generator. were acquired to boost Strengthening of JCF
the JCF’s mobility. • Jamaica’s 29th Police
• One hundred and four- Commissioner, George
teen cars were repaired Quallo, was installed.
under Operation Quick Fix.
• The number of police
• Thirty vehicles were allo- recruits increased by
cated to the Zones of 346. An additional 223
Special Operations. persons were recruited
• Three thousand bullet- for the JDF.
proof vests and 3,500 • A total of 135 former
helmets were purchased district constables transi-
for the JCF. tioned to the JCF.
• Dogs were acquired from • A new forensic pathologist
Colombia and the United was recruited to assist in
States to aid in contraband reducing the backlog of
interdiction and search autopsies.
New police constables participate in a drill during a Passing Out Parade and Awards ceremony and rescue.
at the National Police College of Jamaica, Twickenham Park, St. Catherine. Cont’d on page 10
Intelligence Gathering… cont’d from page 9

Department of Correctional inmates who are unable
Services (DCS) to read.
• A new school building, ‘We Transform’
valued at approximately • Under the ‘We Transform’
J$3.19 million (US$25,000), programme, young peo-
is being built at the Tamarind ple in correctional care
Farm Adult Correctional were equipped with the
Centre in St. Catherine requisite skills and sup-
by Food for the Poor. port to enable them to
become productive law-
• Ten inmates at the Centre abiding citizens thereby
were trained in modern
agricultural techniques reducing reoffending.
under a greenhouse proj- • More than 300 children
ect sponsored by Carib under the care and
Cement Company Limited. supervision of the
• Electronic monitoring of DCS participated in the
inmates was introduced. inaugural ‘We Transform’
competition and expo.
• The College of Agricul- The event showcased
ture, Science and Edu- the skills and creativity of
cation donated a the children, aged 12 to
hydroponic farming facility 17, in art and craft, agri-
to the St. Catherine Adult culture, culinary arts,
Correctional Centre to computer science and
assist with inmate fashion designing.
rehabilitation. Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Senator the Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (2nd
New Path Project left), examines crops being grown under the Tamarind Farm Adult Correctional Centre Greenhouse
• Rehabilitation initiatives • The Department received Project. Others (from left) are Senior Superintendent for the Centre, Baldwin Rollins; Chairman of
were increased in the US$2.5 million to expand Carib Cement Company, Parris Lyew-Ayee Sr.; and Correctional Officer, Linton Campbell.
seven adult prisons, this rehabilitation pro- engaged 8,057 at-risk
where skills training programme. youth from high schools
grammes such as furni-
Citizen Security and islandwide on the dan-
ture making and food
processing were intro- Justice Programme gers of criminal involve-
ment.
duced in collaboration (CSJP) III
with the HEART Trust/ • CSJP’s Men with a Mes- • CSJP III partnered with
NTA. Literacy classes sage (comprising the National Council on
also commenced for reformed persons) Drug Abuse (NCDA) to
implement a substance
abuse treatment pro-
gramme, benefiting 157
young persons.
• About 731 youth benefit-
ted from psychosocial
support through individual
counselling sessions.
• A total of 480 at-risk
youth were prepared for
the workforce through
Vocational Skills Training
(VST). Another 144 are
being prepared for VST.
The new Longville Park Police Station in Clarendon.
• Approximately 102 youth
from volatile communities Behaviour Modification training course and are
were placed in permanent Programme. now better equipped to
jobs, which increased the carry out their duties.
number to over 1,000. Passport, Immigration
and Citizenship Agency • A Drop Box was estab-
• Two hundred and thirty- lished to eliminate the
(PICA) need for persons queuing
Two of four boats donated to the Jamaica Defence Force Coast seven school-age youth • Ninety-eight immigration when renewing passports.
Guard by the United States Government under the Caribbean were engaged during 2017 officers successfully
Basin Security Initiative. in a Summer Diversion/ completed a border Cont’d on page 11
Intelligence Gathering… cont’d from page 10

Private Security Regulation Branch, established 50
Authority (PSRA) police youth clubs in
• Regulatory agencies bene- schools.
fited from a five-day
professional certificate Other Projects
course in International • A memorandum of
Regulatory Affairs and Reform understanding (MOU) was
signed by the Ministry, the
to improve their skills and
JCF and the University of
competencies.
the West Indies (UWI), to
Firearm Licensing facilitate training for more
Authority police recruits at the UWI’s
• The new five-member Mona campus.
Firearm Licensing Authority • A 15-member Security Pro-
(FLA) Board was appointed. gramme Oversight Com-
mittee (SECURIPOC) was
Get the Guns Campaign launched to monitor the com-
• About 833 illegal firearms National Security Minister, Hon. Robert Montague (left), listens as Executive Director, Institute
pliance and progress of the of Forensic Science and Legal Medicine, Dr. Judith Mowatt (2nd left), explains features of
were seized between January Ministry’s Departments and
and December. the BULLETRAX-3D System. Seated is Firearms and Toolmarks Examiner at the Institute,
Agencies in relation to the Stephanie Blake. The system was donated by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace,
JCF 150th Anniversary implementation of key Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Several activities marked this performance indicators,
milestone. These included and make recommen-
an inaugural awards cere- dations.
mony hosted by the Min-
istry and a series of concerts. • More than $500 million was
collected from the Traffic
Community Safety and Ticket Amnesty. It involved
Security Branch tickets dating back to
• The JCF, through its Com- 2010.
munity Safety and Security
Some of the 97 new and pre-owned motor vehicles that were

handed over to the Jamaica Constabulary Force by the Ministry.
Record-breaking Year for Tourism

J
amaica had a record- print for global tourism
breaking year in tourism sustainability, from which
during 2017. an action plan for desti-
nations will evolve.
Visitor Arrivals and
Earnings • Signing of a multi-desti-
• Jamaica's tourism industry nation agreement bet-
marked a historical mile- ween Jamaica and the
stone, welcomed Dominican Republic that
4,300,241 visitors to the will provide both countries
island in a single year. access to a combined
larger market.
• Stopover arrivals totalled
2,353,461 while cruise • A Global Tourism Resil-
passenger arrivals ience Centre to be estab-
amounted to 1,946,780. lished in Jamaica.
• Earnings amounted to • A memorandum of under-
approximately US$3 billion, standing was signed
increasing by more than between the Tourism
10.2 per cent over the Ministry and American
previous year. Hotel and Lodging Edu-
cational Institute (AHLEI)
UNWTO Conference to facilitate the training
Jamaica, for the first time, and certification of persons
hosted the United Nations involved in the industry.
World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) Global Conference
• Online accommodations
company, Airbnb,
under the theme: ‘Jobs and launched its Trip Experi-
Inclusive Growth: Partner- ences platform in Jam-
ships for Sustainable Tourism’ aica. The entity also
from November 27 to 29. announced that it will allow Visitors enjoying the Ocho Rios Bay Beach.
Key outcomes: Jamaica to access its More Hotel Rooms with the opening of several Luxury Hotels and Resorts
• The 15-point Montego data, in a bid to improve Jamaica’s hotel room resorts during the year. These to build two hotels in Oyster
Bay Declaration, a blue- the country’s destination stock increased by over 1,000 include: Bay, Trelawny, which will
marketing thrust.
add over 700 rooms to
• Azul Beach Resort,
the island’s stock. The
Negril – 150 rooms
first, a 325-room hotel, is
• Hideaway at Royalton being built at a cost of
Negril – 600 rooms US$110 million and is
• Sandals Royal Carib- slated to be opened during
bean ‘Over the Water the first half of 2018. The
Villas’, Montego Bay – other hotel, which will
12 rooms add 400 rooms, will open
• Breathless Resort & at a later date.
Spa, Montego Bay –
150 rooms • Ground was broken for
• Spanish Court II, the construction of an
Montego Bay – 124 AC Hotel at a cost of
US$50 million. The project
rooms
is a joint venture involving
• Jewel Grande Montego
Sandals Resorts Inter-
Bay Resort and Spa – national, Marriot Inter-
322 rooms national and ATL Auto-
• Zoëtry Montego Bay – motive.
49 rooms
• Royal Decameron • These projects, along
Cornwall Beach Resort with the Sandals pro-
in Montego Bay, posed development of
St. James Dragon Bay Hotel in
Portland at a cost of
Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left), escorts Jamaica's four millionth visitor for the 2017 • An agreement was signed US$100 million, can
calendar year, American, Jill Bell, along with her husband, Stephen Bell (right), who arrived at the with representatives of
Cont’d on page 13
Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on December 15. the Excellence Group of
Record-breaking Year… cont’d from page 12

potentially create 5,000 medium-sized tourism
additional new jobs. enterprises. It represents
the second tranche of
Training the $1 billion TEF/EXIM
• Cabinet approved plans Bank loan facility, which
for the development of
was launched in September
Jamaica’s first Hotel
2016 with an initial $300
School as well as the
million capital injection
establishment of a Craft
by the tourism entity.
Development Institute
and Artisan Villages to Team Jamaica
support the Ministry’s Programme
thrust to strengthen the • The TPDCo has expanded
sector’s human capital. its ‘Team Jamaica’ training
and certification pro-
• The Tourism Product Devel- gramme. The entity joined
opment Company (TPDCo)
with several approved
signed an MOU with the
training partners (ATPs) to
Edna Manley College of
make the programme
the Visual and Performing
more accessible to
Arts to develop a Craft De-
industry stakeholders.
velopment Institute in St.
Ann’s Bay, St. Ann. Devon House
Tourism Linkages • The new 5,000 square
Network feet ice cream parlour
The Ministry continued to was officially opened.
strengthen links with other Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (2nd right), enjoys a sample of Devon House ‘I Scream’ The project was funded
sectors through five networks at the official opening of the expanded parlour on the grounds of the Kingston-based attraction. by the Tourism Enhance-
– Gastronomy, Health and Also sampling the novelty treat (from left) are: Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, ment Fund.
Wellness, Knowledge, Shopping, Hon. Olivia Grange; former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Edward Seaga; and Managing Director
of Scoops Unlimited, Carol Clarke-Webster.
Destination Assurance
and Sports and Entertainment. Councils
Initiatives embarked on • These bodies have been
include: established to ensure that
• Establishment of Jam- the quality, standards and
aica’s first Gastronomy integrity of the tourism
Centre at Devon House product are maintained.
in St. Andrew.
TPDCo District Constables
• Launch of the Blue • An additional 93 men and
Mountain Culinary Tour. women graduated from
• Launch of the Tourism the TPDCo’s District Con-
Agri-Linkages Exchange stable Programme. They
Online Platform to facilitate represent the second
the purchase and trade cohort of recruits to
of goods between farmers complete the six-week
and buyers within the programme.
local industry. Award
• Mapping of a compre- • Minister of Tourism Hon.
hensive list of restaurants, Edmund Bartlett was
food festivals and tours bestowed with the Carib-
and other culinary infor- bean Journal 2017
mation. Caribbean Tourism Minis-
ter of the Year Award. He
National Export-Import was recognised for being
(EXIM) Bank Loan Facility an effective tourism
• This was boosted by an ambassador, and was
additional Tourism lauded for spearheading
Enhancement Fund (TEF) Jamaica’s hosting of the
allocation of $350 million Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (right), examines a shoe made from cardboard by paper UNWTO Global Confer-
to continue the Bank’s engineering, sign and graphic artist, Marvin Hibbert (centre), during a tour of the Trench Town ence in November.
provision of loans to the community in Kingston in February. Looking on (at left) is Head of the Agency for Inner-City
operators of small and Renewal, Dr. Henley Morgan.
Public Sector Transformation Programme Continues

W
ork under the Public mission to form the Jamaica
Sector Transformation Gaming Commission.
Programme progressed • Divestment of Caymanas
with the approval of a new policy Track Limited to Supreme
governing the classification of Ventures Limited.
public bodies, implementation of
which is under way. • Closure of the Road Main-
tenance Fund and trans-
Finance and the Public ferral of its operations to
Service Minister, Hon. Audley the Ministry of Economic
Shaw, announced that the Growth and Job Creation.
Public Sector Transformation • Closure of the Board of
Plan is being finalised for Survey’s administrative
tabling in Parliament. Addi- offices, the operations and
tionally, he advised that 84 services of which are being
State entities have been iden- managed by the Ministry
tified for divestment, merger, of Local Government and
subsuming into Central Gov- Community Development.
ernment or closure.
• Closure of several Urban
These included: Development Corporation
• The merger of the Child (UDC) subsidiaries that were
Development Agency and dormant. These included:
Office of the Children’s Portmore Commercial Finance and Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (left), shakes hands with Chief Executive
Registry to form the Child Development Limited Officer, PetroCaribe Development Fund, Dr. Wesley Hughes, at the launch of the Ministry of
Protection and Family Centre, Montego Bay Finance and the Public Service/PetroCaribe Development Fund scholarship programme. Education,
Services Agency (CPFSA). Shopping Centre Limited, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (2nd left); and Finance and Public
• Establishment of the new and Kingston Waterfront Service State Minister, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, share the occasion.
HEART Trust/National Hotel Company.
Training Agency, incorpo-
• Cabinet approved the • Completion of Operating (GARD) in the AGD. This
Wage Bill Management Performance Manage- Model for HR shared Division will be responsi-
rating the Apprenticeship Several actions com- services and the HR ble for generating and
Board, Jamaica Foundation ment Policy Parameters,
menced to achieve a public and completion of the Operating Model for the delivering reports on
for Lifelong Learning and Public Sector. Government business.
National Youth Service. sector wage bill of nine per Policy by December 2018.
cent of gross domestic prod- Cabinet approved pro- • Review, standardisation
• The merger of the Betting, uct (GDP) by the 2018/19 fiscal
Scholarship Programme
posed clear and unam- and harmonisation of HR • The Government, through
Gaming and Lotteries year. These included: biguous rules for hire, policies to support
Commission, Jamaica the Ministry and the
• Completion of a Compen- promotion and exit, and MyHR+. PetroCaribe Development
Racing Commission, and sation Review and Nego- commenced work to
the Casino Gaming Com- • Commencement of work Fund, launched a $30
tiation Framework. develop these. to develop an HR compe- million scholarship pro-
• Design of a Special Early tency framework. gramme to provide sup-
Retirement Programme • Capacity-building training port for tertiary students.
and the commencement for HR officers in November. The facility is being
of pre-implementation administered through the
activities.
Jamaica Customs Agency Ministry’s Scholarship and
• The Ministry appointed Assistance Unit, and is
Human Resource Velma Ricketts as the part of ongoing efforts to
Management Jamaica Customs Agency provide State interventions
Transformation (JCA) new Chief Executive
to facilitate human capital
Activities were under- Officer and Commissioner
of Customs in April. development.
taken to enhance the effi-
ciency and effectiveness of Accountant General’s The programme was
human resource management Department (AGD) designed to assist Jam-
in the public service. aican citizens in pursuit of
• The AGD’s functions were their educational goals in
• Roll-out of the integrated expanded as part of the the areas of entrepreneur-
human resource manage- Government’s move to ship, logistics, Spanish
State Minister for Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval ment system in the Office centralise revenue inflows. and energy. Partially
Williams (2nd right), presents a citation to Civil Servant of the of the Services Commis- The AGD now receives funded scholarships are
Year 2017, Acting Director, Corporate Services, Ministry of sion; eGov; Passport, revenue from the JCA and provided for undergraduate
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerry-Ann Alicia Spaulding Immigration and Citizen- Tax Administration Jamaica. studies, whether academic
(2nd left). Sharing the moment (from left) are: President, Jamaica ship Agency; Transport • Approval was granted for or technical; postgraduate
Civil Service Association, O'Neil Grant; State Minister for Finance Authority, and Accountant the establishment of the and/or research leading to
and the Public Service, Hon. Rudyard Spencer; and Cabinet General’s Department (AGD). Government Accounting a university degree or pro-
Secretary, Ambassador Douglas Saunders. and Reporting Division fessional development.
Hundreds Employed as JISCO Alpart Resumes Full Operations

H
undreds of employment production facility, a new
opportunities were cre- aluminium sheet plant,
ated and increased and a new welding rod
economic activities were plant.
generated for communities in • JISCO also plans to
and around St. Elizabeth, fol- upgrade Port Kaiser,
lowing the resumption of full modifying it to handle
bauxite and mining operations larger ships; to assist
at the JISCO Alpart, at Nain, with housing and other
in June. support facilities for port
Bauxite workers; and to set up a
• The agreement between greenhouse agricultural
demonstration project.
the Government and the
new Chinese owners, Mining
Jiuquan Iron and Steel • Government established
Company (JISCO), the geomorphological
unlocked the flow of an boundary of the Cockpit
additional US$1 billion in Country described as the
investment, creating ‘Core Cockpit Country’
approximately 800 jobs. and the Cockpit Country
• The company shipped its Protected Area, which
first cargo of 35,000 includes existing forest
tonnes of alumina to reserves, significant hydro-
China on December 29. logical and ecological
features, and cultural and
• The Government and heritage sites.
JISCO signed documents
to facilitate investment of • The Ministry, through the
Jamaica Bauxite Institute Transport and Mining Minister, Hon. Mike Henry (right), observes factory operations during a
approximately US$3
(JBI) restored some 267.78 tour of the JISCO Alpart plant in Nain, St. Elizabeth. At centre is the company’s Managing Director,
billion over a three-year
hectares of mined-out Liu Wanxiang.
period.
lands, which represent Maritime Sector
• Other improvements 90 per cent of such lands. • The Caribbean Maritime
include a US$500 million The areas are being pro- University (CMU) was for-
230 megawatt liquefied vided to farmers for food mally established on
natural gas (LNG) power production, and planting September 28 during its
plant, a new aluminium for the nutraceutical inaugural Charter Day
foil and stainless steel industry. Ceremony, which coincided
with the International
Maritime Organization
(IMO) commemoration of
World Maritime Day.
• The US$400 million proj-
ect, being undertaken
through funding from the
PetroCaribe Fund, will Transport and Mining Minister, Hon. Mike Henry (right), listens
offer more than 20 pro- as Systems Development Manager in the Ministry of Economic
fessional courses and Growth and Job Creation, Edson Williams (seated), demon-
strates the Island Traffic Authority’s Vehicle Management System.
four new CMU degree
Looking on (from left) are Managing Director of the ITA, Ludlow
programmes. These Powell; and Deputy Superintendent of Police, John Wright.
include a Master of Sci-
ence in Automation, Master Land Transportation • Modernisation of the
of Science in Mechatron- • The Rural Urban Trans- Island Traffic Authority
ics, Bachelor of Engi- port pilot project was (ITA) was advanced with
neering in Automation launched in September rehabilitation and upgrading
and Bachelor of Engineering of examination depots
along three routes: May
in Mechatronics. across the island. The
The Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) team demonstrates Pen to Old Harbour, May expanded May Pen depot
the use of one of the three fire trucks donated to the CMU by • Jamaica was successful Pen to Lionel Town via was officially opened.
the Government of Japan through its Grant Assistance for in its bid to be re-elected Hayes, and May Pen to Refurbishing of the Swal-
Grassroots and Human Security Project. The fire trucks, along to the IMO Council Cate- Toll Gate via Osbourne lowfield and Spanish Town
with an ambulance, were handed over during a function at the gory C, for 2018/2019. Store. depots was completed.
CMU, Palisadoes Park in August.
Ministry Assists Farmers to Rebound After Floods
T
he Ministry of Industry, Poultry/Egg Production Up
Commerce, Agriculture and • Broiler/poultry production
Fisheries implemented sev- is up two per cent, with
eral programmes and initiatives 128 million kilogrammes
to foster growth and to assist produced compared to 125
farmers who suffered major million kilogrammes in 2016.
losses during the flood rains. • Egg production in 2017
increased by approxi-
AGRICULTURE AND mately four per cent to
FISHERIES 184 million, compared to
Flood Recovery the 2016 output.
Programme Beet Army Worm Mitigation
• A $118 million allocation • More than $17 million was
was made available to allocated to assist farmers
assist some 10,000 farmers impacted by the beet army
islandwide who were worm, especially in sections
severely affected by the of Manchester and St.
heavy rains in May, which Elizabeth.
resulted in losses esti-
mated at $794 million. Agro-processing
• The Government, with
Support for Farmers support from the World
• high-quality seeds for Bank, made an investment
Farmers of some $320 million to
The Government’s thrust establish agro-processing
to increase production of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda (right), inspects bananas facilities across the island
high-quality seeds for for export with General Manager, Banana Board, Janet Conie. The 36,000 pounds of produce were through the Jamaica
agricultural production loaded in a container at the compound of the Agriculture Export Centre (AMC Complex) in Kingston. Social Investment Fund
was boosted with the (JSIF). These include:
acquisition of equipment care and productivity Banana • Coffee Farmers
and supplies valued at support for the National • First shipment of 36,000 lb Registered coffee farmers • Seven multi-use agro-
more than $2.5 million. Irish Potato Programme. of green banana to Trinidad are benefiting from an processing incubators
Under the programme, and Tobago occurred on $80 million initiative to valued at some $208
National Irish Potato local production increased December 25, followed improve and increase million in the parishes
Programme to 18,231 tonnes in the by a weekly shipment of yields over time. The proj- of St. Elizabeth, West-
• The Ministry allocated first nine months, satisfying the fruit to Trinidad over ect, which falls under the moreland, Hanover,
$50 million to provide crop 90 per cent demand. the next six months. Ministry’s Productivity St. James, Trelawny, St.
Incentive Programme, Mary and St. Catherine
focuses on training as • A cold storage facility
well as the purchase of at Iterboreale in St. Mary
inputs, such as fertilisers, valued at some $24.3
fungicides, and tools. million
• A cocoa-drying facility
Support for the Sugar valued at $21 million in
Industry Portland
• The Ministry was able to • A $27 million honey
provide support to Mony- extraction and bottling
musk Sugar Factory in plant in Hanover
Clarendon which resulted
• New pump and irri-
in the production of some gation system valued
11,500 tonnes of sugar at over $30 million at
and the preservation of New Forest/Duff
800 jobs. House Agro-Park in
Manchester
Revised Sugar Packaging
and Labelling Standards INDUSTRY AND
in Effect COMMERCE
• The Government intro- COJ Ranks Number Two
duced revised standards in the World
Finance and Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (left), and Head of the EU Delegation to
for the sale of brown and • The Companies Office of
Jamaica, Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska (right), exchange signed grant agreements to
provide €6.5 million to enhance the living standards of residents in sugar-dependent areas. granulated sugar in the Jamaica (COJ) was
Sharing the moment is Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda. retail trade, effective July 1.
Cont’d on page 17
Ministry Assists … cont’d from page 16

ranked number two in the sector in a more structured
Global Competitiveness way.
Report for Opening a Busi-
ness, moving up five MSME Conference
places from 2016. The COJ • Industry Ministers and
was also ranked number small-business operators
five in the world for Start- from across the region par-
ing a Business. ticipated in the inaugural
Caribbean MSME Confer-
BSJ Rebranded ence at the Hilton Rose Hall
• The Bureau of Standards Resort and Spa in Montego
Jamaica (BSJ) was Bay in July.
rebranded and its regula- Cannabis Licences
tory responsibilities Issued
removed and assigned to • History was created with
the National Compliance the issuing of the first two
Regulatory Agency. Some licences by the Cannabis
89 standards were gazetted Licensing Authority of
and promulgated by the BSJ. Jamaica (CLA) for local
entities to legally operate in
Institutional Strengthening the cannabis industry.
of MSMEs Everything Oily Labs was
• The Ministry established its presented with a processing Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon.
Micro Small and Medium- licence, while Epican J.C. Hutchinson (centre), selects yam for purchase at the inaugural farmers’ market on the
sized Enterprise (MSME) received a licence for grounds of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs on Old Hope Road, in St. Andrew. Looking on at right
Division to focus on the cultivation. is Executive Director, Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Ronald Blake.
Government Safeguarding Energy Security

T
he Ministry of Science, The facility is to assist
Energy and Technology approved entities with
made significant strides in renewable energy and/or
safeguarding the country’s energy efficiency retrofits.
energy security through proj-
ects in fuel diversification, • A loan facility for the Energy
including renewable options Management and Effi-
and liquefied natural gas ciency Programme (EMEP)
(LNG). was signed in November
with the Inter-American
Energy Development Bank (IDB)
• A 20-year Power Pur- and the Japan Inter-
chase Agreement was national Cooperation
signed between Eight Agency. The loan is val-
Rivers Energy Company ued at US$40 million, and
Limited and the Jamaica includes funding support
Public Service (JPS) to from the European Union-
supply electricity gener- Caribbean Investment
ated from solar to the Facility (EU-CIF).
national grid. • National Energy Policy
• Ground was broken in Communication and Infor-
December for construction mation Plan implemented
of a 37 megawatt (MW) and National Petroleum
solar power plant in West- Codes completed.
moreland, which is • A project monitoring and
estimated to cost US$60 evaluation system estab-
million. lished and development
Windmills at the BMR Jamaica Wind Farm in Malvern, St. Elizabeth of a long-term demand
• The 20MW WRB Enter- forecast model for the
prises (Content Solar) • An Energy Licensing • The draft Integrated ciency Enhancement
solar power plants were Administration Office Resource Plan (IRP) was Project (ESEEP) was electricity sector completed.
officially opened in June (ELAO) was established in completed and consul- completed on October 31. • Draft regulations for net
in Clarendon. the Ministry to accept and tations commenced, and • Five loans were disbursed billing, auxiliary connections
process applications for a technical committee under the Development and power wheeling
• Ground was broken for net billing licences. established consisting of
Jamalco’s 100-megawatt Bank of Jamaica’s Line of completed.
major stakeholders. Credit facility to small and
LNG plant in December. • As at October, 50 appli- Science
cations were processed • The World Bank-funded medium-sized enterprises,
and 40 licences issued. Energy Security and Effi- totalling US$391,003.07. • The Government signed an
• Petroleum Corporation of MOU with Biojam Indus-
Jamaica (PCJ) was awarded trial Research and Devel-
a grant in October by the opment (BIRD) Global Inc.
United States Trade and to undertake a feasibility
Development Agency study for the creation of a
(USTDA) to support the science and technology
development of an off- park in Jamaica.
shore wind farm.
• A Scientific Research
• Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Council (SRC)-built and
Hon. Andrew Wheatley, patented biodigester sys-
was awarded the Central tem launched at the Noel
American and Caribbean Holmes Hospital.
Renewable Energy Con-
gress (RECAM) 2017 • Draft of Science, Innovation
Renewables Champion of and Technology Policy
the Year Award. completed.
• The Government committed
• JPS, through its sub- $30 million over the next
sidiary, South Jamaica three years to fund high-
Power Company Limited quality research projects
(SJPC) began the execution in the areas of indigenous
phase for the 190MW Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley (left), admires a drone
that was built at the Andrew Wheatley Centre for Digital Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing knowledge and water
LNG-fired power plant at
at the Caribbean Maritime University, during the official opening of the facility in November. Others research as part of Jamaica/
Old Harbour Power (from 2nd left) are: Head of the CMU’s Drone Department, André Subron; and Department South Africa Agreement
Station. engineers, Dario Lawrence and Giovannie Pierre. Cont’d on page 19
Gov’t Safeguarding Energy… cont’d from page 18

on Scientific and Techno- aims to equip 150 trainees
logical Cooperation. with international industry-
standard training in 3D
Technology animation for feature
• Design for GovNET was films.
completed and report
from consultant delivered. • Launch of new public
• Data Protection Bill tabled Wi-Fi locations at Devon
in Parliament. House, Mandela Park, St.
William Grant Park and
• Handover of $13 million Olympic Way in Kingston
worth of laptops and soft- and St. Andrew; Junction
ware to 40 members of in St. Elizabeth; and Man-
the community of persons deville in Manchester.
with disabilities.
• Jamaica achieved number • Launch of the mobile post
one ranking for cyber- office service in St. Ann. It
security and readiness in will serve more than 50
the Caribbean region. communities and adjoining
districts currently without
• Launch of the Government postal services.
of Jamaica Portal
www.gov.jm. • Launch of a state-of-the
Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley (left), and Group art centre for Digital Inno-
• Completion of Community General Manager of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, Winston Watson (centre), are shown vation and Advanced Manu-
Access Point (CAP) solari- a map of Jamaica’s offshore blocks where Tullow Oil will be carrying out 2D seismic surveys, by facturing at Caribbean
sation designs and imple- Manager, Business Unit, Tullow Oil, Eric Bauer (right). Maritime University (CMU).
mentation plan.
mation and communications
• $14.5 million provided for technology (ICT) for users.
the purchase of 31 com-
puters for the Institute of • Launch of the US$779,000
Jamaica’s (IOJ) junior and Creative Industries Edu-
cultural centres, to facilitate cation and Employment
greater access to infor- Programme (CIEEP), which
Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew

Wheatley (2nd left), assists St. Mary resident, Cheyanne Henderson
(left), in accessing a technology application on one of the 16
desktop computers installed at the Annotto Bay Computer
Resource Centre. Looking on are Mayor of Port Maria, Councillor
Richard Creary (2nd right); and Councillor for the Annotto Bay
Division of the St. Mary Municipal Corporation, Hugh Bryan.
Major Infrastructural Works at Public Health Facilities
M
ajor infrastructural works facilities for patients who
were undertaken at have taken up permanent
public health facilities residence at hospitals.
across the island as the Gov- • Expansion of operating
ernment moved to ensure theatre and renovation of
that Jamaicans had access to male sugical ward at St.
quality and effective health care. Ann’s Bay Hospital.
Upgrading and Expansion More Ambulances
• Upgrading and expansion • The ambulance service
works were carried out at was boosted with six
the Falmouth Hospital in new vehicles, purchased
Trelawny and the Savanna- at a cost of $83 million
la-Mar General Hospital with support from the EU.
in Westmoreland, to
accommodate patients NHF Subsidies Increased
from the Cornwall Regional • In April, the NHF increased
Hospital (CRH) in St. James, subsidies on 42 pres-
where work began to cription drugs and
replace the ventilation diabetic supplies at a
system that was expelling cost of $100 million.
obnoxious fumes. Improved Pharmacy
• Repairs commenced at Service
Chapelton Community • The Public Sector Phar-
Hospital in Clarendon in macy Initiative resulted in
December. This will be the reduction of waiting
completed in six months. time for persons accessing
• An agreement worth $5.8 prescription drugs at public
billion was signed with Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (2nd right), breaks ground for the construction health facilities. In many
the Government of China of a building at the St. Catherine Infirmary to house social cases from the Spanish Town Hospital. cases, it took just half an
for the construction of the Also participating (from left) are Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. hour to get drugs, whereas
Western Regional Children’s Desmond McKenzie; Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Fund, Everton Anderson, and in the past this ranged from
Hospital in St. James. Mayor of Spanish Town, Councillor Norman Scott. two hours to three months.
The facility will provide • The Drug Serv Pharmacy
paediatric treatment and in Portmore was upgraded
specialised care for chil- at a cost of $42 million, to
dren under 12 years old serve some 320 persons
in that part of the island. monthly and to provide
• The Balaclava Health seating for 65 customers.
Centre in St. Elizabeth Prevention
was renovated at a cost • The Sealant Project was
of $14 million, provided expanded to improve the
by the Culture, Health, oral health of some
Arts, Sports and Education 50,000 children who have
(CHASE) Fund. issues with their teeth.
• Cancer patients in Western • Through a $100 million
Jamaica gained easier programme, the human
access to medical care, papillomavirus (HPV)
following the opening of vaccine was introduced
a US$15 million ($1.88 to protect girls against
billion) Cancer Treatment cervical cancer, which
Centre at the CRH Mon- accounts for the deaths of
tego Bay, St. James. It many women every year.
was constructed through
a partnership involving • To promote responsible
the National Health Fund health among the youth,
the Ministry of Health, in
(NHF), the TEF, the
conjunction with the Min-
Vincent HoSang Family istry of Education, Youth
Foundation, and the and Information, and other
CHASE Fund. partners, launched the
• Partnerships were estab- Healthy Youth, Positive
lished with Municipal Energy (HYPE) pro-
Corporations and private Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (left), greets patients at the upgraded Drug Serv gramme, to promote
entities to construct Pharmacy in Greater Portmore, St. Catherine. Cont’d on page 21
Major Infrastructural Works at Public Health Facilities… cont’d from page 20

healthy lifestyles in • A Mosquito Control and
schools. The focus was Research Unit was set
on physical activities, up at the University of
healthy eating, saying the West Indies (UWI),
‘no’ to drugs, and caring Mona Campus, to help in
for the environment. the eradication and
control of mosquitoes.
NCD Control
• As part of its national More Nurses
strategy and action plan • Cabinet gave approval for
to prevent and control some 300 additional posts
non-communicable dis- for nurses to increase the
eases (NCDs) and reduce number of heath profes-
premature deaths due to sionals in the public system.
the illnesses, the Ministry
initiated the Jamaica • The Government also
Moves campaign. initiated arrangements
for expanded training for
Public Health eight categories of
To ensure that the Zika nurses who serve the
virus was further controlled, public health system,
some 500 public health aides and forged partnerships
were engaged to rid commut- with the Governments of Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (right), joins in an exercise session at the launch
nities of mosquito breeding the United Kingdom and of the ‘National Baking Company Moves’ held in July at the company’s Half-Way-Tree Road facility
sites. Cuba for training. in Kingston.
Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (left), interacts

with baby Shanoya Johnson, while visiting with heart surgery
patients at the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston.
Shanoya’s mother, Veanka Rodgers, looks on.
Jamaica Strengthens Links Abroad

T
he Ministry of Foreign Maarten that were devas-
Affairs and Foreign Trade tated by Hurricanes Irma
facilitated bilateral relations and Maria. The provisions
with several countries that included evacuation of
secured increased access to 185 persons by special
economic and technical assis- charter flights to Jamaica
tance and cooperation initia- and emergency relief
tives, as well as trade and supplies, including food,
human resource development water, blankets and
programmes, in support of the toiletries.
economic growth and job
creation agenda. • Jamaica signed and rati-
These resulted in the fied the Amendment to
signing of several agreements, Annex III (7) of the Agree-
and implementation of a num- ment Establishing the
ber of projects and activities. CARICOM Development
These include: Fund (CDF) to allow less-
developed member States
• A grant agreement for a to access development
$1.6 billion project for the
Improvement of Emer- funding.
gency Communication World Trade Organization
Systems and a US$15
million Loan Agreement • Jamaica’s fourth Trade
for the Energy Manage- Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator the Hon Kamina Johnson Smith, delivers Policy Review (TPR) was
ment and Efficiency Pro- Jamaica’s policy statement at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly in New York. conducted by the World
gramme (Japan). Trade Organization (WTO)
Caribbean Integrated PROCHILE and JAMPRO eral Administration of
Donation of three sport in September at its head-
• Crime and Violence Infor- were signed during a visit Quality Supervision,
utility vehicles to the GOJ, mation System; workshop quarters in Geneva,
to Chile by Ministry Inspection and Quaran-
which are being utilised on Exploring Natural Dyes Switzerland.
officials. tine of China (AQSIQ), His
by the Ministries of for Sustainable Entrepre- Excellency Zhi Shuping, • Jamaica became the 53rd
Health, Foreign Affairs neurial Development; • Jamaica welcomed sev- who signed an MOU on country to sign the Treaty
and Foreign Trade; and Project on the Bioengi- eral officials from China,
sanitary and phytosanitary on the Prohibition of
Industry, Commerce, Agri- neering of Yam and other including State Councillor
measures to facilitate the Nuclear Weapons at the
culture and Fisheries selected Caribbean roots and Director of the Cen-
export of local seafood to UN Office of Legal Affairs
(Korea). and tuber crops biomaterial tral Foreign Affairs Office
China. in December.
• Project on strengthening for value-chain expansion in China, Dr. Yang Jiechi;
on-farm Water Manage- and pre-commercialisation Vice Chairman of the • Jamaica hosted a joint Jamaica – EU Relations
ment Capacity in Climate analyses (Mexico). National Development delegation from the Asso- • The Ministry convened the
Resilience Production and Official and Working Visits and Reform Commission ciation of Caribbean third Jamaica-European
Productivity; Cooperation (NRDC), His Excellency States (ACS) and the Union (EU) Political Dia-
Project on a ‘Multi-Hazard
• An Agreement on Cooper- Ning Jizhe, who signed a Korean International
ation in Sport, as well as a logue. Issues discussed
Risk Assessment Platform production framework Cooperation Agency
Memorandum of Under- included political and eco-
for Caribbean Educational agreement on production (KOICA), to discuss
standing on Institutional nomic developments;
Facilities’; Cooperation on capacity and investment; arrangements for the
Cooperation between highly indebted middle-
the Development of the and Minister of the Gen- implementation of the
income countries, crime
‘Impact Assessment of
Climate Change on Sandy and security; human
Shorelines Project’ in the rights and the post-2020
island. The 31-month future of African,
project is valued at US$4 Caribbean and Pacific
million. (ACP)/EU relations.
• Jamaica also received an Elections and Successful

additional US$1 million to Candidatures
facilitate the country’s role • Jamaica was elected to
as the main English- the Executive Board of
speaking partner for the the United Nations Edu-
project. cational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization
Regional and International (UNESCO) to serve a four-
Engagements year term from 2017 to
• The Ministry assisted 2021.
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, addresses Jamaicans in the British
the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference in July. Virgin Islands and St. Cont’d on page 24
Laws Approved to Advance Financial, Security and Justice Agenda

T
he country’s financial, 25. Local Governance
economic, public sector (Amendment) Act
reform, justice and security 26. Betting, Gaming and
agenda was advanced Lotteries (Amendment) Act
through Parliament’s enact- 27. The Civil Aviation
ment of several pieces of (Amendment) Act
legislation. 28. The Tourism Enhancement
Legislation Passed (Amendment) Act
29. The Companies
1. Arbitration Act
Amendment Act
2. Children (Guardianship
30. The Processed Food
and Custody) (Amendment) (Amendment) Act
Act 31. Bank of Jamaica Act
3. Caribbean Maritime 32. Appropriation Act
University Act 33. The Road Maintenance
4. Transport Authority Fund (Repeal) Act
(Validation and Indemnity)
Act Orders and Regulations
5. Pensions (Public Service) Approved
Act 1. Twelve additional areas of
6. Constitution (Amendment) forests, totalling 1,862.74
(Establishment Fund) hectares, declared as
(Payment of Pensions) forest reserves. This
Act Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (right), delivers the Throne
followed approval of the
7. General Partnership Act Speech at the opening of the 2017/18 session of Parliament at Gordon House in February. The
Forest Reserves Orders speech was delivered under the theme ‘A Firm Foundation for Prosperity’.
8. Limited Partnership Act 2. Civil Service Establishment
9. Integrity Commission Act (General) Order
10. National Identification and 3. Provisional Collection of
Registration Act Tax (Income Tax) (No. 2)
11. Defence Act Order
12. The Agricultural Loan 4. Banking Services (Deposit
Societies and Approved Taking Institutions) (Agent
Organisations Act Banking) Regulations
13. The Property Tax 5. Political Parties Registration
(Amendment) No. 2 Act Regulations
14. The Property Tax (Validation 6. Special Economic Zones
and Indemnification) Act (SEZs) Regulations
15. Telephone Calls Tax Act
16. Telephone Calls Tax Legislation Tabled
(Validation and Indemni- 1. Occupational Safety and
fication) Act Health Bill
17. Public Debt Management 2. Data Protection Bill
(Amendment) Act
18. Law Reform (Zones of
Legislation Passed in the
House of Representatives
Special Operations)
Only
(Special Security and
Community Development 1. Building Bill
Measures) Act 2. The Licences on Trade
19. Plea Negotiations and and Business (Validation)
(Indemnification and
Agreement Act
Amendment ) Bill
20. Road Traffic (Temporary
3. The General Consumption
Ticket Amnesty) Act
Tax (Removal of Exemptions)
21. National Housing Trust
(Miscellaneous Provisions)
(Amendment) (Special Bill
Provisions) Act 4. Special Economic Zones
22. Transfer Tax (Amendment) (Amendment) Bill
Act 5. The Criminal Justice
23. The Income Tax (Administration)
(Amendment) Act (Amendment) Bill
24. The Stamp Duty 6. The Indictments
(Amendment) Act (Amendment) Act.
Jamaica Strengthened Links…

cont’d from page 23
• Jamaica was also elected the United States of
to the International Mar- America, as well as non-
itime Organization (IMO) traditional locations of
Council – during the 30th Cayman, Japan, Nigeria
Session of the IMO Gen- and the United Arab
eral Assembly at IMO Emirates.
Headquarters in London.
Ambassadorial
Hague Child Abduction Appointment
Convention • Sheila Sealy Monteith was
• Jamaica became party to appointed Jamaica’s
the ‘Hague Convention on Ambassador to Belgium
the Civil Aspects of Inter- and Permanent Repre-
national Child Abduction’. sentative to the European
This now enables the Union and the United
Ministry to work with the Nations Educational,
Child Protection and Scientific and Cultural
Family Services Agency Organization (UNESCO).
to assist in international She will also serve as non-
child abduction cases. resident Ambassador to
Diaspora Affairs other European countries.
• The Ministry underwent Policy Measures
restructuring, which saw • The National Foreign
the creation of a new
Trade Policy and Action
Diaspora, Protocol and
Plan 2017-2020 was
Consular Division.
adopted by Cabinet as a
• A successful Jamaica 55 White Paper. It aims to
Diaspora Conference was provide a road map for
held between July 23 and strengthening the foreign
26 at the Jamaica Confer- trade regime, a tool for
ence Centre, downtown capacity building, and a
Kingston.
reference document for
There were 1,341 partici- policymakers and other
pants from the United public and private sector
Kingdom, Canada and stakeholders.
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator the Hon. Kamina
Johnson Smith (left), exchanges signed documents with China’s
Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Niu Qingbao, for the
construction of the Western Hospital for Children in St. James.
Government Demonstrates Commitment to Education

T
he Government continued per cent to $2,500 per
to demonstrate its unwa- student from an average
vering commitment to of $850 per student.
education and youth develop- • A sum of $112 million was
ment, significantly increasing allocated for Science,
budgetary support to the sector. Technology, Engineering
This included provisions for and Mathematics (STEM)
tuition, plant upgrading and integration in schools.
maintenance, and skills training
and employment opportunities. School Construction and
Measures were also put in Maintenance
place to improve childcare • 172 institutions benefited
and protection. from repairs at a cost of
$554.3 million under the
Increased Funding schools maintenance
• Allocation to education project. Of the sum,
from $95 billion to $98.7 $316.7 million was dis-
billion. bursed to 122 schools to
undertake crucial works
• More than $37.6 billion to facilitate the reopening
went towards the second- of plants for September.
ary level, with per capita The other 50 institutions
support moving to are under contracts for
between $176,994 and various types of renovation
$190,000. Funding outside at a cost of $174.4 million.
of salaries was increased
• 11 contracts were awarded
to $7.2 billion.
at a cost of $49.5 million Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, has the attention of
• Funding to primary, for works under the early- students of Alpha Infant School in Kingston during a Read Across Jamaica Day activity at the
all-age and junior high childhood rationalisation institution on May 9.
schools moved to more project, aimed at the • Work was advanced on • Ten classrooms were built • $76 million was allocated
than $1 billion outside of merger or construction of the building of three at the Old Harbour Primary in the 2017/18 Budget to
salaries. These institutions institutions. Four projects classrooms at Pembroke school in St. Catherine. upgrade bathrooms at 35
received $19,000 per stu- were completed, while Hall High School in St. of 42 schools that still had
dent, up from $1,100. seven are in progress with Andrew at a cost of $14 • Cedric Titus High School
in Trelawny received four pit latrines. Up to the end
works between 60 per million. The project ins- of the year, construction
• The provision for infant pection was done on new classrooms at a cost
cent and 90 per cent of $31 million. was almost completed at
schools increased by 169 complete. December 8. 16 institutions, while work
• At the Sydney Pagon was in various stages on
Academy in St. Elizabeth, others.
work was 40 per cent
complete on three class- • The remaining seven
schools are being com-
rooms at a cost of $24 pleted through partner-
million. ship with the Jamaica
• Work was 80 per cent Social Investment Fund
complete on a $27 million (JSIF) and the Culture,
upgrading project at the Health, Arts, Science and
Bellevue Primary and Junior Education (CHASE) Fund.
High School in Trelawny. Early Childhood, Primary
• A media centre opened at and Secondary Schools
Guy’s Hill High School in • 100 institutions were certi-
St. Catherine. fied as meeting the Early
• The Allman Hill Primary Childhood Commission’s
and Junior High School in (ECC) 12 operational
Above Rocks, St. Andrew, standards.
received an Infant Depart- • The National Standards
ment complete with Curriculum (NSC) for
amenities for early child- Grades One to Nine was
hood growth and devel- fully implemented, and
opment. 9,472 teachers, out of a
• Several canteens were targeted 12,000, were
Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, addresses a Post Cabinet refurbished at a cost of trained in July and
press briefing at Jamaica House. $200 million. Cont’d on page 26
Gov’t Demonstrates Commitment… cont’d from page 25

August. The new curri- munity and teachers’ col- Protection and Family
culum aims to improve leges and private training Services Agency (CPFSA).
the general academic per- institutions.
formance, attitude, and
• Ananda Alert partnered
Programme of with Facebook to share
behaviour of students. broadcasts of missing
Advancement Through
• Primary, all-age and junior Health And Education children on the pages of
high schools began Jamaican users of the
(PATH) social media site.
receiving payment directly • Provisions were put in
from the Ministry of Edu- place for PATH beneficiaries • The play therapy room at
cation, Youth and Infor- to have one cooked meal the Glenhope Childcare
mation. These schools at school for five days Facility was refurbished.
continue to receive their each week free of cost. The facility will assist in the
maintenance grant of
• More than $111 million psychological treatment
$50,000 per school along
was allocated to provide of children who have been
with janitorial support of
literature books for second- exposed to traumatic
$172,000.
ary students in Grades events.
• 86 Mathematics coaches Seven, 10 and 11.
• A mobile Mental Health
were deployed to provide • An allocation of $2,000 Unit called ‘Smile Mobile’
support to more than 200 each was made to cover
primary and secondary was presented to the Child
the cost of identification
schools, moving up from 56. cards and uniform-related Development Agency (CDA)
items for students at the by the United States
Career Advancement secondary level. State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Agency for International
Hon. Floyd Green (2nd left), plays with children of the Glenhope Development (USAID).
Programme (CAP) • Book vouchers of up to Childcare Facility in the therapy room, which was opened in
• $800 million was allocated $2,000 per student were February. Youth Development
to fund the CAP, an provided for the neediest
increase of more than land, St. Mary, Clarendon, at the institution under a • 79 young people were
students at a cost of $40 presented with the Prime
$190 million over the million. Manchester, St. Elizabeth, three-year memorandum
previous year. Hanover and St. James. of understanding (MOU), Minister’s Youth Award for
• A Rural School Bus Trans- valued at J$378.2 million Excellence for outstanding
• More than 8,000 students port System targeting PATH Technical and Vocational (US$3 million). achievement in various
were enrolled in CAP at beneficiaries, valued at Training areas.
110 centres located at $200 million, was rolled • 457 students were enrolled • The Ministry and the Public/
secondary schools, com- out in St. Thomas, Port- in the pilot course of the Private Sector Partnership • More than 700 secondary
Associate Degree in signed a five-year MOU to school student councillors
Occupational Studies. better align education and were trained in youth
training to meet the needs leadership.
• HEART Trust/NTA, in col- of the labour market.
laboration with the Min- • Approximately 8,000
istry, developed and Safety and Security youth accessed academic
launched its Upskilling • The United States Agency and administrative sup-
programme for persons for International Develop- port services through the
already doing certain ment (USAID) partnered Youth Information Centres.
types of jobs. More than with the Ministry on a
2,000 persons have been
• More than 1,000 young
$4 million safety and persons were engaged as
trained under the pro- security in schools
gramme. laboratory technicians,
programme. safety and security sup-
• The National Qualification • Under the project, some port officers, clerical
Framework of Jamaica 130 handheld metal detec- officers and environmental
(NVQ-J) was launched. It tors and five walk-through wardens to be placed in
provides a register for all metal scanners will be select schools under the
qualifications in the provided to institutions. Learn, Earn, Give, and
Jamaican education and Save programme (LEGS).
training system. • A walk-through metal
detector was installed at • The Government allocated
Capacity Support Edith Dalton James High $300 million to help finan-
• The Ministry and BAU School. cially challenged Jamaican
International University in students at the University
Washington DC partnered Child Care and Protection
of the West Indies, University
Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. to provide 107 scholar- • The Office of the Children’s of Technology (UTech) and
Ruel Reid, looks on as five-year-old Devon Primary and Infant ships for student-teachers Registry was merged with the Caribbean Maritime
School students, Quewayne Davis (centre) and Jayquon McIntosh, to pursue undergraduate the Child Development University (CMU).
demonstrate their writing skills. and graduate programmes Agency to form the Child
Major Investment Boosts Local Government Services

M
ajor investments were been worst affected by
made to improve the weather conditions.
country’s capabilities to
respond to disasters, upgrade JFB
the physical infrastructure of • US$1.3 million contract
infirmaries, refurbish fire stations was signed for the acqui-
and boost garbage collection. sition of two new fireboats
for the Jamaica Fire Brigade
ODPEM (JFB).
• Jamaica’s communication
capability before, during • An Emergency Medical
and after disasters was Service (EMS) has been
boosted through a $1.6 set up at the Portmore
billion grant from the Gov- Fire Station in St. Cather-
ernment of Japan. The ine. The EMS has the use
provision, to be disbursed of two ambulances that
over four years, will be were acquired at a cost of
used to procure equip- $17.2 million through
ment. funding from the NHF and
• 300 health workers the CHASE Fund.
received Disaster Risk
Management (DRM) and • A contract was signed for a
Emergency Operations Local Government and Community Development Minister (right), Hon. Desmond McKenzie, in the new fire station in Montego
Centre (EOC) training. driver’s seat of one of the six new garbage trucks acquired for three of the National Solid Waste Bay, St. James, through
Management Authority’s (NSWMA) regional offices. Looking on are Managing Director of the support from the Jamaica
• Community volunteers Jamaica Social Investment Fund, Omar Sweeney (left); and NSWMA Executive Director Audley Social Investment Fund
received training in the Gordon. (JSIF) and the World Bank.
areas of cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR), first through collaboration with (CDCs) were established competed for $6 million in • $58 million was allocated
aid, search and rescue as the St. James Municipal and reactivated in Kingston cash and prizes in the for repairs to fire stations.
well as shelter manage- Corporation. and St. Andrew. 11th staging of the SDC’s
ment. Infirmaries
SDC National 20/20 Commu-
• SDC staged its inaugural nity Cricket Competition.
• More than $185 million
NSWMA • Asset mapping of all 79 Downtown Home and was allocated to upgrade
• The NSWMA fleet of vehi- communities in Clarendon Furnishing Fair to show- • The SDC’s St. Catherine infirmaries in Manchester,
cles was boosted with the was completed in order to case furniture makers and St. James, St. Elizabeth
Agency Network (SCAN)
addition of 28 garbage identify the resources of artisans from the down- and Portland. Of the sum,
the parish. donated a portable suction
compactors valued at town Kingston area. $55 million was provided
machine to the Spanish
more than $560 million. • Twelve Community Devel- to build a new ward to house
The new compactor
• 263 teams from commu- Town Hospital.
opment Committees nities across the island the 43 female residents at
trucks were assigned to Road Repairs/Drain the Manchester Golden
each of the four regional
entities of the NSWMA. Cleaning Age Home.
• The Pennants back road
• NSWA received two new in Clarendon was repaired • $25 million is being spent
tipper trucks valued at $21 at a cost of $13 million. for a new administrative
building and a new infir-
million from the Government
• $20 million was provided mary in St. James.
of Japan to improve
garbage collection in the to rehabilitate the road
Improved Access to
Kingston Metropolitan leading to the birthplace
of National Hero, the
Water
Area (KMA). • The community of Pen-
Right Excellent Sir nants in Clarendon
• More than $250 million Alexander Bustamante in
was allocated for the pur- received its first water
Blenheim, Hanover. shop, which was built at a
chase of 17 additional
• Approximately $40 million cost of $8 million.
trucks, to be procured by
the end of the 2017/18 was set aside to carry out • A sum of $40 million was
financial year. major drain cleaning made available to provide
across Kingston and St. potable water for residents
• Sanitation workers were Andrew.
outfitted with professional Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. of communities severely
uniforms through a $20 Desmond McKenzie (centre); and former Ambassador of Japan • More than $175 million in affected by drought con-
million allocation from the to Jamaica, His Excellency Masanori Nakano (left), listen to Acting emergency funding was ditions in Manchester, St.
Government. Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Raymond approved to address criti- Elizabeth, Westmoreland
Spencer, at the handover of two command vehicles and a Hiace cal infrastructural repairs and Hanover.
• A garbage disposal site panel van to the JFB at the York Park Fire Station on Orange
was opened in Norwood in six parishes that have
Street in Kingston. Cont’d on page 28
Major Investment Boosts… cont’d from page 27

Infrastructure Development data on street lights and
• A $190 million contract identify vulnerable
was signed for construc- persons within communities
tion of a new administra- who may require assis-
tive building to house the tance during periods of
Portmore Municipal Cor- natural disasters and other
poration. forms of emergency.
• The $15 million Ackee Vil- • More than 60 persons from

lage vending park located communities in and around
along the Dyke Road in Peckham, Clarendon,
Portmore, St. Catherine, were trained and certified
was officially opened. in the production of bam-
boo by-products, including
Capacity Building the infusion of bamboo in
• Councillors and Poor light-emitting diode (LED)
Relief Officers attached to technology.
the Westmoreland, St.
Mary and Clarendon Legislation
Municipal Corporations • The House of Represen-
were provided with state- tatives passed the Building
of-the-art tablet and Bill, which seeks to estab-
desktop computers and lish a modern legislative
printers to enhance service framework to reduce the
delivery. vulnerability of Jamaica’s
• Several regional sensiti- built environment and Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (right),
sation sessions for ensure public safety. looks at the sign for Ackee Village in Portmore, St. Catherine, which was officially launched in
July. Others (from left) are Councillor for the Gregory Park Division, Joy Brown; Member of
elected local government
• Regulations accompany- Parliament for East Central St. Catherine, Alando Terrelonge; and Mayor of Portmore, Leon
officials were held. Thomas.
ing the Disaster Risk
Training/Employment Management Act were
• 2,500 young people were reviewed to strengthen the
employed over a seven- provisions and make the
week period to collect legislation more effective.
From left: Local Government and Community Development

Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie; Mayor of Portmore, Leon
Thomas; Chief Executive Officer, Portmore Municipal Corporation,
Kerry Chambers; and Member of Parliament for South East
St. Catherine, Colin Fagan, break ground for the construction Prime Minister the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness inspects the first batch of graduates of the
of the Portmore Municipal Corporation administrative building Jamaica National Service Corps.
in May.
Jamaica Celebrates 55
J
amaicans celebrated the
country’s 55th anniversary
of Independence through
a series of activities dubbed
Jamaica 55, under the theme
‘Celebrating Jamaicans at
Home and Abroad’.
On August 6, more than
30,000 Jamaicans attended
the traditional ‘Grand Gala’ at
the National Stadium.
Legacy Projects
• Strategic partnerships
were developed with the
private and public sectors
to support Jamaica 55 ini-
tiatives, including several
Legacy Projects.
Sports
• Ground broken for the
construction of the
Stafanie Taylor Oval at the
Eltham High School in
St. Catherine, one of the
Jamaica 55 Legacy Proj-
ects. To date, the volley
ball court has been com- Jamaica marked 55 years of Independence in 2017.
pleted. The oval is being
constructed by the Sports • The Ministry hosted the
Development Foundation, ‘Intellectual Property
in partnership with the Rights and the Strategic
Ministry of Culture, Gen- Use in the Sport Industry’
der, Entertainment and international conference,
Sport. It will be the first in collaboration with the
time that a cricket ground World Intellectual Property
in Jamaica is named in Organization and the
honour of a sports Jamaica Intellectual
Property Office.
woman.
• Legendary track-and-field Entertainment
superstar, Usain Bolt, • Fort Rocky in Port Royal
retired. was declared Jamaica’s
first Entertainment Zone.
• The statue of Usain Bolt
was unveiled at the • Work began to establish
National Stadium by an Entertainment Insur-
Prime Minister the Most. ance Plan to assist musi-
Hon. Andrew Holness on cians and artistes. The
December 3. plan will be supported
from the sales of the
• A three-year Letter of ‘Jamaica 55’ commemo-
Exchange for a Technical rative album.
Cooperation Project on
Sport Coaching was Bureau of Gender Affairs
signed between the Gov- • The Woman Incorporated
ernments of Jamaica and Crisis Shelter in Kingston,
the People’s Republic of was refurbished, retrofitted
China. and reopened.
• A Sustainability Plan for • A new miniseries, titled
the Athletes Insurance ‘Amazing Dads’, which
aims to promote positive Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange (right), cuts the ribbon
Scheme was completed
stories about fathers in to officially reopen the Woman Inc. Crisis Centre in Kingston. Assisting her (from left) are:
and is under review by the Founder and Chair of Woman Inc., Angela Stewart; and Chargé d’Affaires at the United States
Ministry. Embassy in Jamaica, Eric Khant.
Cont’d on page 30
Jamaica Celebrates…
cont’d from page 29
Jamaica and mobilise Cultural Organization

men to be productive (UNESCO) Executive
members of society, was Board for 2017-2021.
launched on October 20.
• Work began on Labour
• A Gender Mainstreaming Day to restore the Ward
Manual was developed, Theatre in downtown
which will serve as a quick Kingston. The Ministry is
guide to support the collaborating with the
implementation of various Kingston and St. Andrew
policies and programmes Municipal Corporation to
to promote gender restore the facility.
equality.
• The Culture Passport Pro-
• A National Strategic Action gramme was expanded
Plan to Eliminate Gender- to include community-
Based Violence was based organisations,
implemented. senior citizens, persons
with disabilities, and other
• Review of the Sexual interest groups.
Harassment Bill began for
finalisation and resub- • Nomination dossier for
mission to the Legislative inscription of the Reggae
Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (centre) and Culture, Gender, Entertainment Music of Jamaica on the
Committee. Once
and Sport Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange (2nd left), do the trademark ‘To the World,’ pose Representative List of
of retired track star, Usain Bolt (2nd right), at the unveiling of the eight-foot statue of approved, it will be
returned to Parliament. Intangible Cultural
Mr. Bolt at the National Stadium in St. Andrew in December. At left is Mr. Bolt’s long-time
Heritage for Humanity
coach and mentor, Glen Mills, and at right is sculptor, Basil Watson. • Twenty-seven Government was submitted in March.
Ministries, Departments UNESCO advised that
and Agencies received nomination will be
the Gender Equality Certi- considered in 2018.
fication and Seal, having
achieved specific standards • Work commenced to
in promoting gender secure Port Royal’s inclu-
equality in the workplace. sion on UNESCO’s list of
World Heritage Sites.
• A MOU was signed to
develop strategies and • The rebranded ‘National
collaborative programmes Policy on Culture and
to promote and encour- Creative Economy:
age the involvement of Towards the Enhancement
women in entrepreneur- and Promotion of Brand
ship. Jamaica’ was drafted.
Culture • The National Library of
• Efforts were made to pro- Jamaica digitised 573
tect the Blue and John paper-based items and
Crow Mountains World 3,498 film, video, audio
Heritage Site, including and microfilm contents.
the erection of another • The Creative Production
sign in Port Morant, St. and Training Centre
Thomas. (CPTC) enrolled 153 stu-
• A Regional Conference dents in the various pro-
on World Heritage and Cli- grammes of the Media
mate Change was held in Technology Institute
May. (MTI). About 18 students
also graduated from the
• Jamaica won a place on Institute with diplomas
Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange (4th left); West the United Nations Edu-
Indies and Jamaican woman cricketer, Stafanie Taylor (4th right); and President of the and associate degrees.
cational, Scientific and
Jamaica Cricket Association, William ‘Billy’ Heaven (3rd left), break ground for the Stafanie
Taylor Oval at Eltham High School in St. Catherine.
Widening Access to Justice

T
he Ministry of Justice con- Force Trafficking in Persons
tinued to implement mea- Unit.
sures to broaden access to
justice through training to • Cabinet approved Jam-
boost the capacity of key per- aica’s adoption of the
sonnel, equipping courts with international Blue Heart
relevant technology, and put- Campaign against human
ting systems in place to speed trafficking, which will involve
up trials and reduce backlog. the use of local campaign
materials, the Blue Heart
• Case management statis- logo, fact sheets and
tical system implemented brochures. The campaign
in parish courts to is an initiative by the
enhance the capacity of United Nations Office on
the justice system to Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
manage backlogs. to mobilise governments,
• Criminal Bench Book civil society organisations,
launched to better aid trial media and the private
judges in directing juries sector to expose and
New Justices of the Peace for St. Catherine take the Oath at a commissioning ceremony at combat this serious crime.
in criminal cases. the Portmore Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Catherine in November.
• Legislative Production • Work commenced on the
Management System and Registrar General’s Depart- • National Task Force resource officers in tandem crafting of an Anti-
Legislative Drafting Man- ment, National Land Against Trafficking in with the Safe Schools Trafficking in Persons
ual launched, to make Agency, and Rent Board, Persons (NATFATIP) Unit. Training took place Policy through funding
the legislative drafting among others. conducted seven major in Mandeville, Kingston from the United Nations
process more efficient anti-TIP operations and and St. James. Development Programme
Legal Aid Council
and facilitate speedy • Legal Aid Council com- rescued six victims of • A TIP rescue team was (UNDP).
amendments to Bills. pleted 1,182 matters in human trafficking; and established and Operation
assisted in the rescue and Administrator-General’s
• Judicial Education parish courts islandwide Uplift was launched, which Department
care of four victims from displaced three prosti-
Institute of Jamaica • Mobile Justice Unit was Trinidad and Tobago, The • The Administrator-General’s
launched to facilitate commissioned into opera- tution rings and arrested Department (AGD) closed
Bahamas and Antigua. significant players in the
training of members of the tion. By the end of the 598 files and issued 240
judiciary. year, approximately 1,284 • The Task Force partnered human trafficking trade.
instruments of adminis-
clients were served. with the Ministry of Edu- • NATFATIP procured a tration.
• Supreme Court hosted cation to train and sensi-
three Sentence Reduction Plea Bargaining motor vehicle for the Cont’d on page 32
tise 1,000 school Jamaica Constabulary
Days, which allowed • Plea Negotiations and
accused persons to enter Agreements Act (2017)
a plea of guilty and benefit passed by Parliament.
from a reduction of up to 50
per cent in their sentence. Restorative Justice
Eighty individuals in the • Two new Restorative
Kingston, St. Catherine Justice (RJ) Centres
and Trelawny parish and opened in Kingston in
gun courts benefited from Denham Town and Tivoli
the initiative. Gardens. One Justice
Parish Centre opened in
• Digital audio-recording St. Ann, offering RJ and
and video-link equipment child diversion services,
handed over to the and legal aid.
Supreme Court to be
installed in 71 courtrooms. • 312 sensitisation sessions
held on RJ processes, ben-
JPs Trained efiting 11,906 persons
• 7,584 Justices of the islandwide.
Peace (JPs) appointed. Strengthened Response
• 432 JPs trained through to Trafficking in Persons
the Justice Training Institute. • Cabinet approved amend-
ment to the Trafficking in
• 752 JPs were sensitised Persons (Prevention, Sup-
through the Criminal and pression and Punishment)
Civil Justice Administration Act, for trial by judge alone. Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck (2nd right), and National Security Minister, Hon. Robert
Unit (CCJ) on civil matters Drafting instructions sub- Montague (2nd left), unveil the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) lapel used to create awareness in
relating to the Administrator- mitted to the Office of the the fight against human trafficking. Assisting them (from left) are: Manager for the TIP Secre-
General’s Department, Parliamentary Counsel. tariat, Keshia West and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Carol Palmer.
Widening Access… cont’d from page 31

• The Department was Finance and the Public
involved in several public Service for new and
education activities, upgraded positions for
including more than 50 the chambers to strengthen
public education sessions the capacity of the litigation
and the Ministry of Justice division, as well as to pre-
training seminars for JPs. pare for implementation of
• 66 students, including 57 the legal services centra-
minor beneficiaries were lisation plan.
provided with back-to- • A Transition Advisory
school items. Committee was estab-
Attorney General’s lished to support the
Chambers centralisation plan.
• Cabinet approved imple- • Approximately 20 admin-
mentation plan for the Attorney General, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte (2nd left), greets Senior Puisne Judge (retired),
istrative staff members were
centralisation of legal Hon. Justice Gloria Smith (2nd right), at the launch of the Jamaica Association of Women Judges
trained in the management at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. Chief Justice, Hon. Mrs. Justice Zaila McCalla (left) and Judge of
services. Approval was
of records. the Court of Appeal, Justice Hilary Phillips, share the moment.
given by the Ministry of
Email: jis@jis.gov.jm ● Website: www.jis.gov.jm https://www.facebook.com/jamaicainformationservice https://twitter.com/jisnews
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Government of Jamaica Year in Review 2017

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1 ACHIEVEMENTS 2017 – STRONG PERFORMANCE – Building prosperity through partnership

• Record Employment – 1.2M Persons – 2 • Gov’t Safeguarding Energy Security – 18

Record Employment – 1.2M Persons

Jamaicans employed in various sectors.

Making Home Ownership Easier

A production of the Jamaica Information Service January 21, 2018

Record Employment… cont’d from page 2

Gains in Economic Reform Programme

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew

Prime Minister Andrew Holness (3rd right)

Member of Parliament for East Rural

Boom in Business Process Outsourcing

Boom in Business Process… cont’d from page 6

Social Safety Net Strengthened

JCF’s Intelligence Gathering Capabilities Enhanced

Intelligence Gathering… cont’d from page 9

Intelligence Gathering… cont’d from page 10

Some of the 97 new and pre-owned motor vehicles that were

Record-breaking Year for Tourism

Record-breaking Year… cont’d from page 12

Public Sector Transformation Programme Continues

Hundreds Employed as JISCO Alpart Resumes Full Operations

Ministry Assists Farmers to Rebound After Floods

Ministry Assists … cont’d from page 16

Government Safeguarding Energy Security

Gov’t Safeguarding Energy… cont’d from page 18

Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew

Major Infrastructural Works at Public Health Facilities

Major Infrastructural Works at Public Health Facilities… cont’d from page 20

Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (left), interacts

Jamaica Strengthens Links Abroad

• Jamaica also received an Elections and Successful

Laws Approved to Advance Financial, Security and Justice Agenda

Jamaica Strengthened Links…

Government Demonstrates Commitment to Education

Gov’t Demonstrates Commitment… cont’d from page 25

Major Investment Boosts Local Government Services

Major Investment Boosts… cont’d from page 27

• The $15 million Ackee Vil- • More than 60 persons from

From left: Local Government and Community Development

Jamaica and mobilise Cultural Organization

Widening Access to Justice

Widening Access… cont’d from page 31

Email: jis@jis.gov.jm ● Website: www.jis.gov.jm https://www.facebook.com/jamaicainformationservice https://twitter.com/jisnews

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