Cabinet has approved the procurement and distribution of Grades One to Three primary integrated study text books and work books for 2010, to Macmillan Distribution Limited, in the amount of approximately £888,840.

The books will be supplied to some 815 primary, all age and junior high schools islandwide, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, has said.

The Minister was speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, last week.

“This was also done for Mathematics work books for 2010, to Pierson Education Limited, in the amount of £222,000 and this was for the same 815 schools,” he informed.

Meanwhile, Mr. Vaz said Cabinet has given permission for the supply of pipes and fittings for the New Forest/Duff House Irrigation System in Manchester, to Jamaica Drip Irrigation Limited, in the amount of approximately $167 million.

“The procurement of these pipes and fittings is being done under the National Irrigation Development Programme of the National Irrigation Commission (NIC), which is intended to increase the national agriculture area under irrigation and management practices,” he said.

Additionally, the Minister said Cabinet has made amendments to the procurement arrangements for retail fuel supplies to government Ministries, agencies and departments for the year 2011 to 2012.

He said Cabinet approved the establishment of a framework agreement with eligible petroleum marketing companies for the supply of retail fuel at the weekly ex-refinery prices, plus a fixed margin of nine per cent to government Ministries, agencies and departments for the period January 2011 to December 2012.