State Minister for Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, hopes the 2017/19 wage negotiations between the Government and unions representing public-sector workers will be conducted as smoothly as those which resulted in the existing two-year agreement. Similar views have been expressed by Head of the Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Education Institute at the University of the West...

State Minister for Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, says public-sector modernisation is intended to enhance service delivery by state entities, while providing opportunities for the development of employees. Mrs. Williams contends that the Government’s undertaking to make the public sector more efficient “goes beyond savings”, and entails determining how funding and other resources are administered for the...

State Minister for Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, says Jamaica faces a more stable future based on notable macroeconomic gains, particularly under the four-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Mrs. Williams notes that debt is declining, the Net International Reserves are strong, and the rate of inflation is at “historic lows”, as a result of lower global oil...

The Senate, on Friday (Oct. 21), passed amendments to the National Insurance Act, during its sitting at Gordon House. The Bill, which was unanimously passed without further revisions, follows the House of Representatives’ approval of the amendments in September. This now enables the Government to administer timely adjustments of National Insurance Scheme (NIS) benefits for pensioners and other beneficiaries. A...

The recent passage of three key pieces of legislation in the House of Representatives should better position Jamaica as a place of choice to facilitate the administration of international financial and business services. These include: the General Partnership Act 2016; the Partnership Limited Act 2016; and the International Corporate and Trust Service Providers Act. The General Partnership Act will formalise...

The National Commercial Bank (NCB) has donated approximately $2 million in cash and supplies to the Haiti relief effort. The contribution, from the bank’s staff, was handed over to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) yesterday (October 20), at the NCB Atrium offices in Kingston. Director General of ODPEM, Major Clive Davis, who accepted the donation, told...

The Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) is reporting a 90 per cent conviction rate for persons found to be involved in illegal gambling. BGLC Director of Licensing and Registration and Acting Director of Enforcement, Maurice Thompson, said there were 15 arrests in 2014/15; 15 arrests in 2015/16; and three arrests since the start of the year. He said the...