More than 300 officials are expected in the island for the sixth International Monetary Fund (IMF) High Level Caribbean Forum slated for Thursday, November 16 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. Among these are current and former regional heads of government, finance ministers, central bank governors and private-sector representatives, as well as senior staff of the IMF and...

Ambassador Plenipotentiary for Economic Affairs, Dr. Nigel Clarke, is calling for increased investment in agriculture, as there is great demand that is not being satisfied and which the nation has the ability to supply. “If we focus more on growing our own produce, we would reduce the need to import and satisfy the demands of our markets, which also results...

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica (ICAJ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will further strengthen their longstanding collaboration on matters related to the country’s tax system. The concept, which has been adapted from the Canadian Revenue Authority’s model, underpins the establishment of a Consultative Committee that will provide a forum for...

Finance and the Public Service State Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, has lauded Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) for implementing reforms that have significantly improved the agency’s operations and service delivery and taxpayers’ compliance in filing statutory returns. Notable among these initiatives, she says, are the Revenue Administration Information System (RAiS) e-services platform; the creation of a single payment window for filing...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says Jamaica’s economic climate is so positive that banks are once again lending money for productive enterprises. Delivering the keynote address at the official opening of the GWest Medical Centre in Fairview, Montego Bay, on November 2, Mr. Holness added that it is indeed a good sign for the country’s economic future, and...

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) has launched the second cycle of its Alternative Livelihood Skills Development Programme. The $69-million initiative is a component of the World Bank-funded US$42-million Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP). Cycle two seeks to increase the probability of employment and improved livelihood of skilled trainees under the ICDP programme through the acquisition of advanced and introductory...

Mayor of May Pen, Councillor Winston Maragh, is calling for citizens of Clarendon to form themselves into groups in order to tap into resources that have been provided by international entities for development projects. He said communities need to follow the example of the Peckham Community Development Committee, which was able to secure US$130,000 from the Organization of American States...