Jamaica’s international reserves remain robust despite the worsened external position resulting from Hurricane Melissa, which impacted the country on October 28. Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Governor, Richard Byles, reported that the reserves stood at a historically high US$6.3 billion in mid-December 2025. Addressing the BOJ’s Quarterly Monetary Policy Report press conference, held on Monday (December 22) at the BOJ auditorium...

The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has unanimously agreed to maintain the policy rate on overnight placements by deposit‑taking institutions at 5.75 per cent per annum. Speaking during the Quarterly Monetary Policy Report press conference at the BOJ auditorium in downtown Kingston on Monday (December 22), Governor, Richard Byles, said the decision to maintain the policy rate...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Dr. Andrew Holness, has hailed the late Don Wehby as a Jamaican of “uncommon distinction”. He noted that the former Government Senator and GraceKennedy Limited Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was committed to nation-building, the renewal of communities and the development of all sectors of the country. Dr. Holness said that Mr. Wehby was...

The Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) has reported encouraging participation in its recently launched Debt Reset Programme, with more than 6,000 clients already onboarded through the customer portal. Approximately 3,600 clients have already applied for the Debt Reset Programme. Of this group, 800 have sought the arrears credit, while 2,900 have applied for the ‘Good Standing’ credit of $100,000. Overall, some...

 

The Government is moving to transition its post-Hurricane Melissa relief efforts from physical distribution to a voucher system by early in the New Year. Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Ambassador Dr. Rocky Meade, disclosed this during Wednesday’s (December 10) sitting of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee of Parliament. He explained that, following the passage...

Cabinet has approved amendments to the Income Tax Act to facilitate a regime that allows for a non-taxable treatment of disaster relief honorarium made by employers to employees during periods in which a declaration of disaster has been issued. Cabinet also approved the issuing of drafting instructions to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel to give effect to the proposed regime. Minister...