The Finance and the Public Service Ministry has launched Jamaica’s first accredited public procurement training and certification series. The engagement, being done in partnership with the International Procurement Institute (INPRI), will cover key concepts, principles and applications in Public Sector Procurement (PSP). It comprises four levels and will outline the internationally accepted best practices and developments in electronic government procurement....

The Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) will be monitoring the Government’s implementation of two key benchmarks under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Precautionary Stand By Arrangement (PSBA) for the January to March quarter. Co-Chair, Keith Duncan, said these are the drafting of a Consultation Paper for a Crisis Resolution Framework, and the establishment of a Financial Inclusion Council. He was...

The Government has presented a budget of $710 billion for the fiscal year 2017-18, with $485 billion allocated for recurrent (housekeeping) expenses and $225 billion for capital (development) spending. Details of the projections are outlined in the Estimates of Expenditure, which were tabled in the House of Representatives, yesterday (February 19), by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon....

Jamaica has met or is on track to meet all 12 quantitative performance indicators and structural benchmarks under the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) Precautionary Stand By Arrangement (PSBA) for the period ending December 2016. Key among these are the central Government primary surplus balance; grants and revenues; inflation; new property tax rates and bands; and formation of the Financial...

Finance and Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, will travel to the People’s Republic of China next week to sign an agreement with that country’s EXIM Bank for the construction of the southeast coastal highway project at a cost of approximately US$384 million. Mr. Shaw said the new highway will run from Harbour View in Kingston through Morant Bay in...

The Accountant General’s Department (AGD) is urging civil servants close to the age of retirement to ensure that all their documents are updated to minimise delays in receiving their pension. Client Services Manager at the AGD, Tanisha Weir Grant, told JIS News that Ministries, Departments and Agencies are being strongly encouraged to invite the AGD to speak with this group...

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (January 31) approved the Provisional Collection of Tax (Income Tax) (No.2) Order 2016. The Order, which was piloted by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, will allow the new personal income tax threshold to remain in effect. “The measure was recommended on the basis to alleviating the economic hardship which...