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Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has announced that Government will establish a Central Treasury Management System (CTMS), during this financial year. "This new aspect of financial management involves a holistic approach to the management of public funds and will provide real short and long term fiscal benefits for the country," Mr. Shaw said, during the opening...

State Minister for National Security, Senator Arthur Williams, has called for partnerships among stakeholders in the corrective service to ensure that the inmate rehabilitation programme does not suffer as a result of macroeconomic imperatives. Noting the "serious cuts" in this year's budgetary allocations, Senator Williams warned that "all aspects of the correctional process are going to be affected", and underscored...

Students at Pratville Primary and Infant School commemorated Earth Day on Wednesday (April 22), during which they recalled the importance of protecting the environment. The day's activities were sponsored by Jamalco, which provided the students with tips on reasons for the celebration. Jamalco's geologist, Damian Williams, informed them that Earth Day draws attention to environmental issues, and pointed out that...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is encouraging more use of sweet potato as a healthy starch staple, based on the health and investment benefits of the product, as confirmed by research. Such benefits include its local availability, overseas demand and economic viability. Additionally, the fact that it is well accepted culturally, suggests that most consumers will be receptive to...

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service has implemented a new phase of the tax amnesty programme, which will run until the end of October. Jamaicans, who are not declaring income taxes, are being urged to use the period of the amnesty now underway, to become tax compliant. "Embrace the opportunity to be part of the process where we...

The City of Birmingham is making a bid to provide training camp facilities for the Jamaican and Caribbean Track and Field teams, ahead of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Last week, the city hosted the Jamaican High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Burchell Whiteman, and showcased the city's facilities and highlighted its strong Caribbean links. High Commissioner Whiteman...

A church service is to be held in Miramar, Florida, on Sunday, April 26, to mark the 40th anniversary of Air Jamaica's first flight. Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, will join Jamaica's Consul-General in Miami, Sandra Grant Griffiths, Air Jamaica Executives, Jamaican nationals, and friends in the Diaspora for the occasion. The thanksgiving service will be held at Christway Baptist...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has said that taxi fares, electricity bills, cooking gas and fuel used by the bauxite and aviation sectors should not be affected by the increase in the Special Consumption Tax on petrol he announced on Thursday. "We do not anticipate and expect that they will seek to increase taxi fares," Mr....

The Government is not expected to return to the capital markets this fiscal year, but expected loan inflows from the multilateral financial institutions will assist in meeting financial obligations. This was the word from Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, as he opened the 2009/10 Budget Debate on April 23 in the House of Representatives. He...

The Government has developed an economic framework in an effort to improve the quality of governance in the country. The framework will address key areas such as controlling public sector debt; rationalising public bodies; improving Central Government financial management and budget processes; increasing revenue collection; increasing growth and competitiveness; and managing the public sector wage bill. Minister of Finance and...

The Government will be increasing provisions under the social safety net to provide a cushion for Jamaicans as the country grapples with the current world financial crisis. "The global economic crisis only reinforces our commitment to ensuring that the most vulnerable members of our society are protected," said Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw as he...

Government is not imposing General Consumption Taxes (GCT) on electricity or water. Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Information and Telecommunications, Daryl Vaz, has said that at no time was any reference made to imposing GCT on these utilities. In his budget presentation to the House yesterday and at a further press briefing this morning, Finance Minister Audley Shaw stated...