The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting that the economy contracted by an estimated 5.9 per cent during the January to March 2026 quarter, compared with the corresponding period in 2025. Speaking during PIOJ’s quarterly briefing on Wednesday (May 20), Director General, Dr. Wayne Henry, said the out-turn largely reflected the lingering impact of Hurricane Melissa on productive activities....

The Government has made deliberate progress in strengthening service delivery across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), says Executive Director of the Transformation Implementation Unit (TIU), Maria Thompson Walters. “We have seen improvements in digital access, customer engagement, responsiveness and institutional accountability… but we still hear complaints. Recent events, especially Hurricane Melissa, have reminded us that service excellence cannot exist only...

Official Development Assistance (ODA) from International Development Partners (IDPs) continued to play a pivotal role in supporting Jamaica’s Medium Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework (MTF), through a mix of new and ongoing projects and programmes during 2024. This was highlighted by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) in its latest Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ). The report indicated that new...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, says business continuity must be a priority for all public-sector entities, with resilience embedded into the design of every service. Business continuity is the capability of an organisation to maintain or quickly resume essential functions and deliver products or services at acceptable levels during and after a disruption. “It must...

The Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) is encouraging borrowers to take advantage of its Debt Reset Programme, noting that participation can significantly improve their credit standing and enhance their ability to access loans from other financial institutions. Credit bureaus collect information from lenders and other relevant sources on a borrower’s credit history, which is then used to assess creditworthiness. Borrowers with...

Jamaica’s economy remained broadly on course in 2024 despite significant setbacks caused by extreme weather events and other external challenges, according to the latest Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ). Released by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), the report notes that while real output contracted during the year, key macroeconomic targets were maintained, reflecting continued fiscal discipline and policy...

Data-driven research continues to shape Jamaica’s social development agenda, with new findings underscoring both progress and persistent challenges affecting children, youth, and vulnerable groups across the island. The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), in its latest Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ), reports that evidence-based analysis remains central to the design of policies and programmes under the country’s social protection...