Despite the economy contracting by 8.3 per cent for the October to December 2020 quarter, relative to the corresponding period in 2019, Jamaica continues to show signs of recovering from the resulting fallout precipitated by the coronavirus (COVID-19). This analysis is based on the review of the latest key indicators, undertaken by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). Speaking during...

Reforming the Cannabis industry into one which earns maximum benefits globally, is the goal of the newly appointed Chairman for the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), LeVaughn Flynn. He was announced as the new Chairman for this agency of Government on February 23, by Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Audley Shaw. Mr. Flynn,  who has written several articles advocating...

Another 50,000 Jamaicans are to benefit from cash grants under the Government’s COVID-19 Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme, which will continue with a further allotment of $3 billion in the 2021/22 budget. This was noted by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, as he piloted the Appropriations...

After an extremely difficult year in which the economies of its 19 Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs) contracted by 12.8% on average due to the onset of Covid-19, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is projecting an average gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 3.8% in 2021. However, this projection, made in Part 1 of CDB’s Regional Report: 2020 Review and 2021...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting that Construction and Mining and Quarrying grew by an estimated 6.2 per cent and six per cent, respectively, for the October to December 2020 quarter. They were the only subsectors recording growth in the goods producing industry, which PIOJ Director General, Dr. Wayne Henry, said declined by an estimated 0.6 per cent....

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, says there are “positive signs” regarding the PIOJ’s projection for the country to record economic growth of between four to six per cent during the 2021/22 fiscal year. Speaking during the PIOJ’s digital quarterly briefing on Tuesday (February 23), Dr. Henry said this is in the wake of...

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are being encouraged to explore the various options of selling their products and services online, to help grow their businesses. Speaking recently at a Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) ‘Virtual Biz Zone’ session, under the theme 'Jamaica! Start Selling Online’, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fygaro, Ariel Rochwerger, said that business operators can utilise...