The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service will take its community sensitisation initiative dubbed ‘Boots to the Street’ to the Harbour View community in St. Andrew on Thursday (July 5). Boots to the Street was developed by the Ministry’s Communication and Public Relations Unit to engage citizens across the island in an effort to raise awareness about the work...

The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) is facilitating access to financial services for underserved consumers through the promotion and use of digital payments. Deputy Governor, Livingston Morrison, said that the move is in keeping with the Government’s thrust towards making Jamaica a digital economy, and is also part of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy. He was speaking at the opening of...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson, has announced a 12.9 per cent increase in the national minimum wage from $6,200 to $7,000 per week. In addition, security guards will receive $9,700 up from $8,854 per week, reflecting a 9.6 per cent increase. The new rates take effect August 1, 2018. Mrs. Robinson, who made the announcements in...

Finance and the Public Service Minister, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, says multi-stakeholder acceptance and ownership of Jamaica’s proposed independent Fiscal Council will be key to its success. Fiscal councils are permanent, independent, non-partisan institutions that are created by legislation and staffed by competent, experienced and technically proficient persons who help to promote economically sustainable fiscal policies across political cycles....

General Manager of the Country Department, Caribbean Group, at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Therese Turner-Jones, has underscored the importance of technology in creating sustainable and vibrant economies in the region. Addressing a plenary session at the recent Jamaica Investment Forum at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, Mrs. Turner-Jones pointed out that adaptation of technology could put the Caribbean on...

The Revenue Protection Department (RPD) will continue to fight corruption by including in its strategies the recommendation to introduce ethics in schools. Speaking at the RPD’s 10th anniversary church service at Saint Peter’s Anglican Church in Port Royal on Sunday, June 17, Commissioner/ Principal Director (Acting), Cranston G. Morgan, said the Department will step up enforcement activities as well as...

Finance and the Public Service Minister, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, says technocratic staff for the proposed fiscal council will be chosen based on high levels of competence and skills. “We want highly skilled persons who understand fiscal policy (and) economics and who have some amount of experience and analytical capability… and the ability to communicate,” he said. He was...