CHRIST CHURCH, Barbados (AP) - The Inter-American Development Bank will issue Jamaica a US$17-million (approx J$850 m) loan to help improve the country's access to Internet and e-government services, the bank said yesterday.

The funds, approved Wednesday, will be used in part to help improve Internet access to about 60 low-income communities throughout Jamaica. Each community will receive five computers, the bank said.

The resources will also be used to help upgrade Jamaica's e-government system. Businesses and citizens will be able to pay taxes online and obtain export and import permits on government Internet sites, the bank said.

Jamaica will administer the project, estimated at US$23 million, with remaining funds coming from local business contributions.
It wasn't immediately clear when the money would be made available.

The Washington DC-based bank, which has an office in Barbados, finances economic, social and institutional development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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