The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is anticipating further reduction in the country’s poverty rate, which declined from 21.1 per cent in 2015 to 17.1 in 2016. The decline, reported in the Statistical Institute of Jamaica’s (STATIN) Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions, represents a 19 per cent drop in the incidence of poverty, the largest annual reduction in 10 years....

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), Dr. Eric Deans, says the development and delivery of value-added goods and services under the Government’s Logistics Hub Initiative (LHI) will be pivotal in spurring higher levels of economic growth and job creation for Jamaica. He notes that fluctuations in the country’s economic fortunes over the years, which...

The Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) is reporting heightening investor/stakeholder interest in operating in the country’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which are key components of the Government’s Logistics Hub Initiative (LHI). Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the JSEZA, which is spearheading the Initiative’s development, Dr. Eric Deans, tells JIS News that the Authority has 31 SEZ applications for established...

Several amendments are being proposed to the Rent Restriction Act, which are expected to address current challenges in the rental industry and make it more equitable for landlords and tenants. According to Senior Director in the Housing Policy, Research and Monitoring Branch of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Paula Parkes, the challenges which exist in the industry...

The public is being invited to participate in a series of consultations on the proposed amendments to the Rent Restriction Act. The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation is taking steps to implement the amendments to strengthen existing provisions in order to address challenges in the renting industry. The consultations, which began on May 15, will run until June 20,...

The National Land Agency (NLA) is working with three entities to facilitate the implementation of electronic land titling in Jamaica. They are Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), and the World Bank. Consultants are being employed to assist with designing the system, which will include legislative changes to the Registration of Titles Act, to allow for records...

The Government plans to utilise lands owned by the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) and the National Insurance Fund (NIF) in Boundbrook, Portland, to facilitate the relocation of 11 government agencies. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz, explained that the objective is to provide more comfortable surroundings for staff and members...