Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, is proposing the suspension of licences of drivers with five or more outstanding tickets for traffic violations. “I think it is important to send the message… that you cannot just collect tickets and feel that you can accumulate them without any sanction and without any enforcement of the rule of law,” he asserted. The...

Member of Parliament for St Andrew Eastern, Hon. Fayval Williams, says efforts are being made to undertake a programme for the redevelopment of the town of Papine in the constituency. “Papine is a hub of activity of pedestrians, vehicles and vendors. It is the ‘capital city’ of St. Andrew Eastern and an asset to the constituency, but it is in...

The first Supplementary Estimates for the 2017/18 financial year will be tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, December 5. This was disclosed by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, during the sitting of the Lower House on Wednesday (November 29). The Estimates will be discussed by the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) and...

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is encouraging the use of their online payment system to pay motor vehicle fitness fees. Communications Officer, TAJ, Leighton Beckles, told JIS News that the process is very convenient, fast and reliable, and cited the payment platform (the virtual tax office), as the second most highly used location for payment in the recently concluded traffic ticket...

As one of the principal agencies delivering the Government’s programme of micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) assistance, the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) provides a diverse suite of products and services tailored to spur significant MSME growth. General Manager for the DBJ’s Microfinance Services Division, Paul Chin, said the agency’s core functions fall under the areas of equity, micro-finance,...

The National Export-Import Bank of Jamaica (EXIM Bank) is reporting that its small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMTEs) loan scheme has been a success with strong take-up by players in the sector. The $1-billion facility, launched last September through financing from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), enables industry stakeholders to access between $5 million and $25 million to upgrade and...

The Government of Jamaica has signed a US$15-million loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the implementation of the Energy Management and Efficiency Programme (EMEP). Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, explained that the sum is the second portion of a joint loan of US$30 million for the roll-out of the EMEP. He...