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Students’ Loan Bureau Gets $3 Billion

The Government will be providing $3 billion in grant support to the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) during the 2019/20 fiscal year, in keeping with the Administration’s focus on increasing access to tertiary education. This was announced by Finance and Public...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, announces the Revenue Measures for the financial year 2019/20, as he opens the 2019/20 Budget debate in the House of Representatives on March 7. Seated from left are: Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw and Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Fayval Williams.

Debt-to-GDP Ratio to Fall to 96 Per Cent at End of 2018/19

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, opens the 2019/20 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on March 7. Seated from left are: Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, and Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Fayval Williams.

Gov’t Places Priority on Improving Public Safety

Finance and Public Service Minister, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, emphasises a point during Friday’s (March 8) post-Budget press conference at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston. He is flanked by Financial Secretary, Darlene Morrison (left), and Deputy Financial Secretary, Diane Black.

2019/20 Budget Represents Economic Opportunity for All – Dr. Clarke

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange (centre), greets United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Dr. Elsie Laurence-Chounoune (right), during the International Women’s Day Breakfast on Friday (March 8) at the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites in New Kingston. Sharing in the moment is UNDP Gender Seal Project Manager, Cordia Chambers- Johnson. The event was hosted by the UNDP under the theme: ‘Breaking Through to Next-Level Gender Equality in the Jamaican Workplace’.

Two More National Women’s Shelters to be Established

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7 years ago Budget 2019/2020Finance & Public Service

$1 Billion for Social Housing in 63 Constituencies

The Government has allocated $1 billion to the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation to support the implementation of an islandwide social housing programme across all 63 constituencies. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, said the programme will comprise three modalities – the provision of indigent housing; relocation of vulnerable communities; and the...

7 years ago AgricultureBudget 2019/2020Water

Additional Funds to Boost Agriculture and Rural Water Supply

The Government has boosted allocations for activities in agriculture and to improve the provision of water to rural communities during 2019/20. This was disclosed by Finance and Public Service Minister, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, as he opened the 2019/20 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Thursday (March 7). In the area of agriculture, Dr. Clarke said $1.1...

7 years ago Budget 2019/2020Finance & Public Service

Fiscal Council Will Further Institutionalise Economic Independence – Finance Minister

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, says establishment of the Fiscal Council will seek to further institutionalise economic independence by strengthening Jamaica’s Fiscal Responsibility Framework. He points out that the Fiscal Council will be the guardian and interpreter of those fiscal rules which already exist and will help to maintain a path of fiscal...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, announces the Revenue Measures for the financial year 2019/20, as he opens the 2019/20 Budget debate in the House of Representatives on March 7. Seated from left are: Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw and Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Fayval Williams.

7 years ago Budget 2019/2020Finance & Public Service

Gov’t to Give up Over $14 Billion in Taxes

The Government is to forgo $14.032 billion in taxes as part of measures to stimulate greater business and economic activity and boost growth. This is contained in the Revenue Measures for the 2019/20 fiscal year announced by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, as he opened the 2019/20 budget debate in the House of...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, DPhil, MP

7 years ago Budget 2019/2020Finance & Public Service

Allocation for Social Protection Increases to $20 Billion

The Government has announced a 25 per cent increase in the allocation for major social protection programmes, moving from $16 billion in 2018/19 to $20 billion in 2019/20. These include the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH), and the network of social services provided for the poor and vulnerable. “That is protection of the vulnerable in action,” Minister...

7 years ago Budget 2019/2020Finance & Public Service

Tax Administration and Jamaica Customs to Improve Efficiencies

The principal revenue collection agencies, Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) and Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), will be implementing strategies aimed at improving efficiencies during the new financial year. This is according to the Government’s 2019/20 Fiscal Policy Paper, which was recently tabled in the House of Representatives by Finance and Public Service Minister, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke. According to the...

7 years ago Budget 2019/2020Finance & Public Service

Self-Financing Public Bodies Show $71.9 Billion for Capital Budget in 2019/20

The 2019/20 capital expenditure budget for the 56 Self-Financing Public Bodies (SFPB) is projected at $71.9 billion. The sum is $13.5 billion more than the figure for 2018/19, which totalled approximately $58.4 billion, and is expected to result in the entities attaining an overall balance deficit of $3.2 billion over the period. This is according to the Government’s 2019/20 Fiscal...