The National Land Agency (NLA) is encouraging Jamaicans to trust the process of systematic land registration being undertaken by the agency and allow it to work for their benefit.
The process aims to assist persons in obtaining the titles for property they have lived on undisturbed and undisputed for upwards of 12 years.
“Systematic land registration is new; it is revolutionary; it is different from……..Click Here for full story on JIS website.
In the last four years, Vanesia Reid repeatedly walked to her community’s St. Andrew South Constituency Office to ask for assistance in getting a house, which she was in dire need of.
Her persistence paid off, as on February 11, she received the keys to her new two-bedroom house, which was constructed under the National Social Housing Programme (NSHP), at a cost of J$9,471,005.
The keys were handed over by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness during……..Click Here for full story on JIS website.
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is working on designing a “cookie-cutter solution” for the National Social Housing Programme (NSHP) that will be more cost-effective.
“We need a solution that meets all the requirements of a house that is strong, durable, comfortable, aesthetically appealing, easy on construct, that you can just come and within a few weeks……….Click Here for full story on JIS website
AQUAPONICS is gaining traction at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), where students are exposed to the farming method that combines aquaculture, or fish farming, with hydroponics, or crop production without soil, to boost yields.
CASE initially received a grant from the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica, through the Adaptation Programme and Financing Mechanism (AP &FM) for the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience, to build the aquaponics system. The aquaponics farm now enables practical experience for students studying agriculture at the institution ,while also boosting income earning for the institution.
Markland Murphy, director of projects and research coordinator at CASE, explained that the institution had maximised the use of the space for the aquaponics farm by adding pipes to assist with growing more produce, in addition to the regular farm beds.
The technique seems to be working and Murphy is anticipating being able to supply 7,000 pounds of lettuce every four weeks, if things go according to plan. The CASE team is already talking with several potential buyers for the produce.
Aquaponics, which is seen as a climate-smart agricultural practice, has been known to boosts crop production up to 10 times higher than traditionally cultivated plots of equivalent size. It uses 85 per cent to 90 per cent less water and no chemical fertilisers or pesticides. It is low-energy consumption, providing year-round crop production and uses much less labour than traditional farming.
The aquaponics system is a part of the activities undertaken under the AP&FM to help to reduce Jamaica’s vulnerability to climate change. The AP&FM receives funding from the Inter-American Development Bank through the Climate Investment Funds.
Chief Technical Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Yaneke Watson, says the Government is committed to increasing access to irrigation services in order to ensure a competitive and productive agricultural sector.
“The Government of Jamaica is cognizant that the role of irrigation and water management in increasing food production is essential and………
Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, Minister in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, was paid a courtesy call by the new High Commissioner of India to Jamaica, H.E. Shri Mazakui. The meeting took place on Tuesday December 29, 2020 at the Ministry’s offices at 25 Dominica Drive.
Minister Hill, who had served both as Non-Resident High Commissioner for Jamaica to India, as well as the island’s Special Investment Ambassador to India, welcomed High Commissioner Mazakui to Jamaica. The Minister noted the special relationship that the two countries have shared throughout the years. After a wide-ranging discussion a broad agenda was outlined on which Jamaica and India can expand their commercial and other cooperation.
High Commissioner Shri Mazakui presented Minister Hill with a book titled “The Story of My Experiments with Truth”, an autobiography by the late Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Mahatma Ghandi).
L- R. Mr. Michael Shaw, Chairman of the National Water Commission’s Board; Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for the Water Portfolio; and Mr. Mark Barnett, President of the National Water Commission
Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, welcomed the new Board of Commissioners of the National Water Commission during a meeting at the Courtleigh Hotel on Tuesday, November 24, 2020.
Minister Hill charged the Board to examine all options, especially corporatization and privatization of the National Water Commission to bring in large and needed private investment, in order to provide sustainable and efficient potable water and sewerage services to Jamaicans.
The new Commissioners are:
Mr. Michael Shaw – Chairman
Mr. Steven Fong Yee – Deputy Chairman
Mr. Baron Stewart
Mr. Gavin Jordan
Mr. Stephen Edwards
Mr. Tyrone Robinson
Ms. Adonia Chin
Ms. Marion Sophia Brown
Ms. Opal Whyte
The appointment of the Board of Commissioners became effective on October 12, 2020. The Board will serve for a period of three years.
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Everald Warmington, says procurement for the repair of several roadways in St. Catherine North East will commence in two weeks.
Mr. Warmington told JIS News that much of the road infrastructure in the constituency “needs overhauling,” but the breakaways will be given immediate attention.
The Minister said he has asked the NWA to start the costing process for the repairs.
He reported that since the heavy rains have subsided, road patching has resumed across the island and will be intensified.
Meanwhile, Manager of Communications and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw, said the agency has reopened most of the 260 blocked roads across the island.
According to Mr. Shaw, the NWA is working overtime to clear remaining roads that have been made “impassable” due to the recent heavy rains.
He is imploring residents to be cautious on the roads that have been damaged.
Communities visited on the tour included Grateful Hill, Bamboo Ridge, Williamsfield, Riversdale and Lucky Valley.
Photo and story credits: The Jamaica Information Service
A recording and essay submitted by Mr. Omar Chedda, Director of the Investment Branch at the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, were highlighted features of this year’s Global Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Finance Forum held from October 26-28, 2020.
Mr. Chedda’s recording “Look into the Crystal Ball: The State of SME Finance 2030”, was aired during the virtual forum on Wednesday October 28, 2020, while his essay entitled “Global Online Marketplace Platforms” was selected to be included in an e-publication that was launched during the three day forum.
The annual conference, is the largest, and most geographically diverse conference on Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) financing hosted globally.
The event attracts leaders from commercial banks, development finance institutions, fintech companies, as well as regulators to discuss the state of SMR financing. It also provides an opportunity for participants to network, share knowledge and best practices and forge meaningful partnerships aimed at promoting the growth of SME’s.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference was held virtually this year and provided for one-on-one networking, a virtual marketplace, exhibition booths, breakout sessions, and panel discussions, as well as the recognition of the 2020 Global SME Finance Awards winners. More than 2500 participants from 149 countries and more than 950 institutions joined this year’s virtual forum
THE ADAPTATION Programme and Financing Mechanism (AP&FM) of the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR) was awarded third place for ‘exceptional execution – excellent project planning and delivery’ in the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB’s) Project Execution Challenge.
“Winning this award was made possible by the commitment, dedication and hard work of the members of the project executing unit, comprising Kay de Ann Taffe Dixon, Angella Lalor, Mauro Lewis, Indi Mclymont-Lafayette, and Bridgette Barrett,” noted Project Manager Dr Winsome Townsend, in expressing her delight for the recognition.
She was speaking after the award presentation during a virtual ceremony last month.
The IDB has 56 funded projects in Jamaica and in 2019 issued the challenge to determine the best project execution unit in the country. It used two new reporting tools – the Schedule Performance Index and the Cost Performance Index – to measure the effectiveness of project implementation. It also used accumulated disbursements and value of good practice as two other criteria for performance.
As part of Jamaica’s PPCR, the AP&FM works to help the nation adjust more easily to climate change. It supports the integration of climate-change issues into development planning by government agencies and the implementation of climate-change adaptation measures across Jamaica. It is being implemented by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and is funded by the Climate Investment Fund through the IDB and the Government of Jamaica.
To date, the achievements of the AP&FM-PPCR include:
• Reforestation of 15 hectares of forestlands in the Pennants community in Upper Rio Minho Watershed (URMW) Area, Clarendon;
• Fifty acres of agro-forestry established on 60 farms in upper Clarendon;
• Construction of 1,517 of 1,800 innovative check dams called MICRO (Multiple Interceptions for Climate Resilience Optimisation) check dams;
• Five Aquaponics farming systems established in five communities (Aenon Town, Alston, James Hill, John’s Hall and Ritchies) in northern Clarendon;
• Vulnerability assessment of the entire Rio Minho Watershed Area;
• Preparation of a climate adaptation plan for the entire Rio Minho Watershed Area;
• Vulnerability assessments of 15 priority communities in the URMW; and
• Preparation of climate change adaptation/disaster risk-reduction plans for 15 priority communities in the URMW.
Other improvements include:
• The US$4.7-million worth of grant funding provided for over 135 grants distributed to non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations;
• Over US$2.5-million worth of loan financing provided for 259 loans at 4% interest rate granted to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises;
• Sixty climate change focal points from ministries and the municipal corporations trained to mainstream climate change into development planning;
• Implementation of a climate change awareness programme for policymakers and government ministries, which saw 229 decision takers and policymakers trained in 14 workshops.
The project has also see the preparation of seven technical papers of relevance to spatial planning in Jamaica; and the preparation of a national spatial plan that incorporates climate change considerations.
