Business Operators in Montego Bay Benefit From COJ’s Mobile Outreach

Business operators in Montego Bay are benefiting from the Companies Office of Jamaica’s (COJ) mobile outreach, where they are being sensitized on issues such as company registration; the filing of annual returns, change of directors, secretaries and the registered office, as well as business name registration.
The three-day outreach, which concludes on (Oct. 18), forms part of an island-wide public education and awareness initiative by the COJ to get businesses compliant with all necessary regulations and operational laws.
Acting Compliance Manager at the COJ, Gregory Spaulding, told JIS News that all persons operating businesses are advised to get registered and become fully compliant with the rules. “If you are doing business, it is just not advisable to be illegal. The first benefit of registering is to be operating legitimately. This benefits you in many ways such as accessing loans . but apart from this, one always wants to know who the principal of a business is. Ownership and proof of ownership is very important and registration shows ownership,” Mr. Spaulding told JIS News.
He said that persons who are unsure of their compliance or registration status, “can call us and our officers will be more than willing to point you in the right direction and to give you the information that you require to become compliant under the law.” The COJ’s public education campaign was launched in Portland earlier this year and has so far covered the areas of St. Mary, St. Ann, Trelawny, St. Catherine, and St. James.
The mobile team is expected to travel to Mandeville, Negril and Santa Cruz by the end of the financial year.