Finance Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, says there is need for an international lobby to highlight the risk to Jamaica and other Caribbean states of measures by developed countries and financial institutions to tackle money laundering. He said while international rules must be followed, concerns must be registered when action is taken in an indiscriminate manner. “We have to clean up...

The Government’s revenue inflows for April totalled $34 billion, approximately $2 million above target. Tax revenues accounted for $33 billion of this sum, which was $3 million more than budgeted, says Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) Co-Chair, Richard Byles. He was speaking at EPOC’s monthly media briefing, at Sagicor Life’s offices in New Kingston, on Thursday, June 9. Mr. Byles...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, says the twin threats of money laundering and terrorism financing are clear dangers to regional prosperity. Addressing the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) Plenary and Working Groups Meeting at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa, in St. James on June 8, Mrs. Williams...

More than 150 civil servants are to be trained in project administration under the Government’s enhanced Public Investment Management System (PIMS). The exercise forms part of the administration’s undertaking to further enhance the Ministries, Departments and Agencies’ ability to better manage government projects under the PIMS, thereby increasing their contribution to Jamaica’s economic growth. The training is slated to be...

The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) is urging the public to use licensed customs brokers when importing or exporting goods. Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner of Customs, Major Richard Reese, in an interview with JIS News, said the Agency has received several reports of individuals who have been scammed by persons claiming to be licensed brokers. “We do have instances where...

Financial analysts continue to hail the Government’s tax reform initiative to move from direct to indirect taxation as a step in the right direction. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), Dennis Chung, said his organisation applauds the move as it will capture a larger cross section of the society and achieve a higher compliance...

Commissioner of Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), Major Richard Reese, says the organisation is addressing the challenges that have been encountered by users of the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) world system. “In implementing this very complex computerized system there have been several challenges with respect to the overall automation exercise,” he told JIS News. The Commissioner, in  response to...