The Bank of Jamaica’s (BoJ) says total currency issued into circulation for the week leading up the Christmas holidays, from December 17 to 21, amounted to $13.9 billion. This, it noted, represents a 12.2 per cent increase in the currency stock for the week, and was broadly in line with the $13.5 billion or 13.9 per cent increase for the...

The Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), through its Global Affairs at the Caribbean Department, will implement several activities in 2019 to support the Government of Jamaica Blue Economy Initiatives. The Blue Economy is an emerging concept which relates to protecting, conserving and using sustainably marine resources. Vice President of the Department at CMU, Ambassador Joachim Schmillen, said the unit, which was...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon Daryl Vaz, says the Government is looking to strengthen aspects of the law applicable where breaches of the ban on single-use plastics, which takes effect on January, 1, 2019, may be committed. While noting fines ranging between $50,000 to over $1 million for breaches of stipulations under...

A total of 40 Justices of the Peace (JPs) from Kingston and St. Andrew, on Thursday (Dec. 20), graduated from a training programme organised by the Justice Training Institute (JTI). The programme which aims, among other things, to significantly boost the capacity of the Lay Magistrates’ Courts, forms part of the Justice Ministry’s undertaking, through the JTI, to further strengthen...

Jamaica is poised to generate a record US$3.3 billion in tourism earnings for 2018. This, according to Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, who says that up to December 14, revenue inflows had increased by nine percent, with visitor arrivals up 5.3 per cent over the corresponding period in 2017. “That means that the US$3.3 billion will be a new benchmark...

The town of Falmouth, once the epicentre for economic activities in Jamaica, is experiencing a renaissance, with port and hotel developments and attractions, and is being touted as a major location for tourism and other businesses. With world-class attractions such as Chukka Good Hope and Martha Brae Rafting, the town, famous for its Georgian-style architecture and historic buildings, has been...

The Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) has adopted the United Nations (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are being targeted for attainment within 12 years in relation to a wide range of social and economic development issues. These focus on addressing education, energy, the environment, health, hunger, poverty, decent work and economic growth. The SDGs form part of...