The House of Representatives, on Tuesday (February 19), passed legislation to allow for the exemption of locally recruited employees of the World Bank from the payment of income tax. The legislation, Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Act, was piloted by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams. Mrs. Williams explained that the Bretton Woods Agreement Act incorporates into...

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday (February 18), passed legislation that will allow the Minister of Finance and Public Service to directly appoint the private sector members of the Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) board. The Bill, an Act to Amend the Tax Administration Jamaica Act, was piloted by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams. She explained that the Act established the...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) anticipates the country’s return to economic growth in the January to March 2025 quarter, with projections within the range of 0.1 to one per cent. Director General, Dr. Wayne Henry, made the disclosure during the PIOJ’s quarterly media briefing at the Institute’s offices in New Kingston on Wednesday (February 19). This positive outlook is...

The Government has allocated $135 million for work to be carried out under the Social Protection for Increased Resilience and Opportunity (SPIRO) Project during the upcoming fiscal year. This sum is contained in the 2025/26 Estimates of Expenditure, which was tabled in the House of Representatives recently by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams. The project...

Re-igniting civic pride and love and appreciation for country as tools for national development, were the focus of a Valentine’s Day ‘Love Jamaica Fest’ organised by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) on Friday (Feb. 14) The inaugural Vision 2030 Jamaica event, under the theme: ‘Jamaica, My Valentine’ was held at the AC Hotel in Kingston and online. Delivering the...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has announced a comprehensive evaluation of the Vision 2030 Jamaica National Development Plan. Vision 2030 Jamaica is the country’s first long-term strategic development plan, covering the 21-year period, 2009-2030. It embodies the plans and processes for the realisation of a collective vision, encapsulated in the statement: ‘Jamaica, the Place of Choice to Live, Work,...

The Government has announced a $1.26-trillion Budget, strategically designed to navigate the current economic climate while investing in Jamaica’s long-term prosperity. The Estimates of Expenditure for fiscal year 2025/26 was tabled in the House of Representatives on Thursday (February 13) by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams. The Government plans to fund the Budget from anticipated...