$700 Million Allocated for Fiscal Administration Modernisation Programme

The Government is to continue initiatives under its Fiscal Administration Modernisation Programme, through a $700 million allocation in the 2013/2014 Estimates of Expenditure.

The project, implemented in December 2011, aims to support the Government of Jamaica in achieving a sustainable fiscal position by strengthening the Ministry of Finance and Planning’s institutional capacity to effectively improve customs, inland tax collections, and manage debt and government payments.

The sum allocated for this fiscal year, will go towards remodelling of a building at East Street; acquisition of a surveillance system, a fixed asset system, applications for revenue system, and 111 computers and 50 laptops; commencing the procurement of an integrated tax administration system and document management system; and implementing a modernised customs system.

As of March 2013, the programme had procured 120 computers, 50 laptops, and 15 tablets; requested proposals for the remodelling of the East Street building; acquired statistical licence; procured enterprise backup and storage solutions; invited bids for a new integrated tax administration system; while asset inventory management, revenue accounting and document management systems were drafted for publishing;

The programme is funded jointly by the government of Jamaica and the Inter American Development Bank (IDB). It is scheduled to be completed by December 2016.

By Latonya Linton, JIS Reporter