Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is implementing several strategies to increase property-tax collections. Speaking at the recent Local Governance conference in Montego Bay, Commissioner General at TAJ, Ainsley Powell, said a total of 17 programmes were developed and implemented covering registration, filing and payment compliance, audit, and taxpayer service and education. “Those are some of the key things that we’re trying...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, says increased local demand for the United States (US) dollar over recent weeks, has resulted in further depreciation in value of the Jamaican dollar against the US currency. The Bank of Jamaica’s website indicates that the rate stood at J$133 for US$1 on Wednesday (July...

The Government has awarded two contracts valued at just under $356 million for the supply of equipment to the Portmore Information Parks in St. Catherine and the Montego Bay Terminal, St. James. This was disclosed by Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, during a post-Cabinet Press briefing held on July 25 at Jamaica House. He...

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service continues its ‘Boots to the Street’ community sensitisation sessions on Friday (July 20) at the Paul Bogle High School Resource Centre in St Thomas, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The islandwide initiative was developed by the Ministry’s Communication and Public Relations branch in an effort to raise greater awareness about the work of...

Cabinet has approved members of the Public Investment Management Committee (PIMC), chaired by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon Nigel Clarke. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry, Hon. Fayval Williams, will serve as Vice Chair. This was disclosed by Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, at the recent post-Cabinet press briefing...

The Public Procurement Regulations 2018 and the Public Procurement (Reconsideration and Review) Regulations were approved by members of the Senate on July 13. Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, said a third, the Public Procurement (Registration and Classification of Suppliers) Regulations, 2018, is expected to be tabled at a later date. The regulations are linked...

A new World Bank Report is suggesting that, on average, Jamaica would need $16 billion annually to cover losses from natural disasters. Of this amount, it is estimated that $9 billion would be required to address hurricane damage to public and private buildings. Titled, ‘Advancing Disaster Risk Finance in Jamaica’, the report, which outlines proposals for the formulation of a...