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Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Glendon Harris (centre), cuts the ribbon to officially open the Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) training centre in Montego Bay, on January 20. Others (from left) are: Deputy Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Pamella Folkes and Commissioner General of the TAJ, Ainsley Powell.
Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Glendon Harris (centre), cuts the ribbon to officially open the Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) training centre in Montego Bay, on January 20. Others (from left) are: Deputy Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Pamella Folkes and Commissioner General of the TAJ, Ainsley Powell.

TAJ Opens Training Centre in Montego Bay

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), today  (January 20),  opened its Western Training Centre in Bay West Shopping Centre, in Montego Bay. The centre will cater to the training needs of TAJ employees and other agencies, including the Customs Department, and will...
Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, highlights the successes of the Ministry during a recent JIS Think Tank.
Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, highlights the successes of the Ministry during a recent JIS Think Tank.

Minister Hylton Cites Successes in Business Reform
Region One Vice President of the National Secondary Students’ Council (NSSC), Benjamin Fraser.
Region One Vice President of the National Secondary Students’ Council (NSSC), Benjamin Fraser.

National Secondary Students’ Council Stages Prayer Rally
Minister of Health, Hon. Horace Dalley (left), addresses today’s (Jan. 20) Jamaica House press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston. Others (from second left) are: Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Kevin Harvey; and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Marion Bullock Ducasse.
Minister of Health, Hon. Horace Dalley (left), addresses today’s (Jan. 20) Jamaica House press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston. Others (from second left) are: Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Kevin Harvey; and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Marion Bullock Ducasse.

GOV’T Upgrading UWI Lab to Test for Zikv
Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) students Odane Allison (2nd left) and Shanesha Simpson (2nd right), show off their scholarship award contracts. Occasion was the presentation ceremony for the Caribbean Shipping Association’s (CSA) Monica Silvera Awards on January 18, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. Eight final year students of the CMI were presented with scholarships valued at $2.4 million (USD$20,000) to cover their tuition costs. Sharing the moment are Principal of the CMI, Dr. Fritz Pinnock (left), and President of the CSA, David Jean Marie.
Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) students Odane Allison (2nd left) and Shanesha Simpson (2nd right), show off their scholarship award contracts. Occasion was the presentation ceremony for the Caribbean Shipping Association’s (CSA) Monica Silvera Awards on January 18, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. Eight final year students of the CMI were presented with scholarships valued at $2.4 million (USD$20,000) to cover their tuition costs. Sharing the moment are Principal of the CMI, Dr. Fritz Pinnock (left), and President of the CSA, David Jean Marie.

CMI Students Receive $2.4 Million in Scholarships

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CommerceForeign Affairs

Jamaica Well Placed to Develop Services Industry – WTO Director General

World Trade Organization (WTO), Director General, Ambassador Roberto de Azevêdo, says Jamaica is well placed to develop the services sector which, he notes, is an area that can provide sustained economic growth. Trade in services remains an important economic activity for Jamaica and is a priority for the country in the Doha Round negotiations. The services industry in Jamaica continues...
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Health & Wellness

Increased Vector Control Activities in St. Elizabeth

Health officials in St. Elizabeth are being proactive in ensuring that citizens of the parish play their part in reducing mosquito breeding grounds. Chief Public Health Inspector for St. Elizabeth, Beverton Pryce, says there was only one reported case of dengue fever for the month of December 2015 and no reported or suspected case of the Zika Virus (ZikV) so...
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Finance & Public Service

Finance Minister Lauded for Receiving Gleaner Honour Award

The business community and the trade union movement have lauded Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, for receiving the Gleaner Honour Award for 2015 for public service, describing it as a reward of his prudent management of the economy. President of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), William Mahfood, says Dr. Phillips’ role in the...
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Labour

GOV’T Announces Increases in the Minimum Wage

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has announced a 10.71 per cent increase in the national minimum wage from $5,600 to $6,200 for a 40-hour workweek. In addition, industrial security guards will receive $8,854 for a 40-hour work- week, up from $8,198, reflecting an eight per cent increase. The new rates take effect on March 1, 2016....
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Commerce

Jamaica Makes Strides in Becoming Major Financial Services Hub

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday (January 19), passed two Bills, which are critical in positioning the country to become a major player in the US$7 trillion International Financial Services (IFS) sector. They are the Limited Partnership Act and the General Partnership Act.  Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, who piloted the Bills, said they form part...
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Foreign Affairs

Jamaica’s Trade Deficit Narrows

Jamaica’s merchandise trade deficit fell by 13.4 per cent to US$2.9 billion for January to September 2015, when compared to the US$3.3 billion recorded over the similar period in 2014. Co-Chair of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC), Richard Byles, credited the improvement to the reduction in food imports and lower oil prices. He said the decrease in food import...
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Finance & Public Service

Dr. Phillips Tables Revised Estimates of Expenditure

The first Supplementary Estimates for the 2015/16 financial year was tabled in the House of Representatives on January 19 by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips. It reveals that the Budget has been revised upwards from $641.56 billion to $808.42 billion. The increase in the Budget shows that some $165 billion has been allocated for the...
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