The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has endorsed the establishment of the Government’s Economic Growth Council. The Council, chaired by businessman, Michael Lee-Chin, will advise the Government on a framework of proposed initiatives that are expected to yield economic growth. Caribbean Country General Manager for the IDB, Therese Turner-Jones, describes it as a step in the right direction, and that “creating...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government remains focused on developing sound economic growth policies aimed at reducing Jamaica’s dependence on borrowed funds. While acknowledging that “we still borrow”, he argues that this is being done more responsibly. Mr. Holness further says that the administration is also endeavouring to reduce Jamaica’s debt “as much...and as rapidly as...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has reported that the country recorded an estimated growth of 0.8 per cent for the 2015 calendar year. Director General, Colin Bullock, in a quarterly economic press briefing at the PIOJ offices on March 3, told media personnel  that this growth of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) represents an improvement of performance over the...

The Labour Market Research Day, hosted by the HEART Trust/NTA on February 16, facilitated a range of discussions on the ways to position the labour market to enable economic growth. Senior Director of Information System Technical Services at HEART Trust, Colin Barnett, in an interview with JIS News following a public forum at the Knutsford Court Hotel, said the inaugural...

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Collin Bullock, says the economy is expected to grow for the financial year, which is a continuation of the 0.9 per cent expansion recorded for the 2013/14 period. Mr. Bullock was addressing the Inaugural Western Jamaica Economic Forum on November 26 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St....

Director, Taxation Policy Division, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Ian Scarlett, is urging young Jamaicans to use the training they have received at various academic institutions and create employment opportunities for themselves. “The days of going to school, graduating from university and getting a job or having someone employ you, those days are numbered. It now means that you have...

World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean, Sophie Sirtaine has hailed the Government of Jamaica’s ‘strong commitment’ to the Economic Reform Programme. Ms. Sirtaine, who was addressing journalists at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on May 6, said economic reform for the country was not an easy one due to vulnerability to disasters and economic shock. However, she said...