Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) announces its decision to hold the policy interest rate (the rate offered to deposit-taking institutions on overnight placements with BOJ) unchanged at 0.50 per cent per annum. Bank of Jamaica has kept the policy rate at the historic low level of 0.50 per cent based on its assessment that inflation will generally continue to remain within...

The National Water Commission (NWC) is reminding landlords that they must ensure that water bills attached to their properties are settled on time and in full. Based on the legal provisions that guide the operations and policy of the NWC, bills are not sent in the name of tenants. Instead, they are directly linked to properties. This means the water...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is calling for an extension of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) of the Group of 20 (G-20), to further aid in the economic recovery of developing countries from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Mr. Holness noted that while he appreciates that the initiative has been extended until June 2021, he is suggesting a...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Royal Caribbean Group, Richard Fain, says a number of test cruises carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic and also prior to the start of vaccination programmes by countries have shown that ships are ready to start sailing again. Mr. Fain, in a video message to travel advisors on March 22, said that the sector...

The National Water Commission (NWC) is advising the public that it continues its Customer Census Mapping Project in the parish of Westmoreland.  The NWC Customer Census Mapping Project involves a door-to-door survey of existing and potential NWC customers and mapping them using global positioning system (GPS) devices so that the NWC can use this digital information in its continuous service improvement efforts. The...

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, is urging member countries to maintain coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols and safeguards, even as vaccinations get under way in a number of territories. Speaking during PAHO’s recent COVID-19 digital briefing, Dr. Etienne said that maintaining the measures is imperative, particularly against the background of increases in infections and deaths in several countries...

Government of Canada contributes an additional CAN$1.2 million to PAHO aimed at providing essential equipment and supplies in the Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.   The Government of Canada announced it would contribute CAN$1,200,000 (approximately USD$950,000) to support the efforts of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) against COVID-19 in six Caribbean countries. Several countries in...