The Government is reporting that the primary surplus out-turn for the 2016/17 fiscal year surpassed the target by $12.8 billion. State Minister for Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, says the figure stood at $135.9 billion, which was 0.7 per cent above the minimum seven per cent target for the period. She was making her contribution to the...

State Minister for Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, says as at the end of March 2017, the country’s Debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio was at 115 per cent. “Looking forward, the projection is for the Debt/GDP ratio to be at 108.6 per cent at the end of this fiscal year 2017/18 and at 89.5 per...

State Minister for Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, says the Government’s implementation of the $1.5-million personal income tax threshold represents more than a policy shift from direct to indirect taxation. “The shift is simply the ‘how’. The ‘why’ is our belief that personal income tax reform can improve the lives of Jamaicans,” she said. Mrs. Williams was...

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), as part of its National Compliance Plan, is working to make its facilities more accessible to persons with disabilities. Communications Officer at the TAJ, Leighton Beckles, in an interview with JIS News at a Visioning Workshop held at the Jamaica Conference on May 4, said the move is part of the Agency’s goal to improve service...

Secretary Manager of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (CPC), David Grey, is urging public servants to ensure compliance in making statutory declarations of their assets, liabilities and income. He said those who are already late in filing declarations, which were due on March 31st, should still make every effort to do so as soon as possible. Declarations are...

The Economic Growth Council (EGC) is reporting that the Government has met or is on track with 13 of that body’s 18 targets for March. Notable among these, EGC Chairman, Michael Lee-Chin says, is the tabling of legislation to establish the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) as an independent national law-enforcement body, as also the Bill to merge...

Two hundred new businesses are to benefit from $26 billion in support by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) this fiscal year. This was disclosed by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz, who said this support is in addition to an anticipated $7 billion in loan approvals. The Minister was making...