Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) Co-Chair, Richard Byles, has welcomed the Government’s stated focus on achieving more substantial growth for Jamaica. “We certainly hope that it bears the fruit that I think every Jamaican wants to see, because we certainly need it to spur us past the one percent margin...and into the two (and) three percent (range), which is where...

Jamaica’s Net International Reserve (NIR), which currently totals US$2.2 billion, is comfortably ahead of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) March target of US$1.6 billion, the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) Co-Chairman, Richard Byles, has informed. Speaking at EPOC’s monthly briefing at Sagicor Life, New Kingston, on March 15, Mr. Byles said consequent on the NIR being “pretty strong,” Jamaica has...

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) says its Schools’ Financial Education Programme (SFEP) is empowering young people to establish strong personal money management tendencies. According to Executive Director at the FSC, Janice P. Holness, the programme, which has been in operation for over five years, has reached some 1,200 students across the island, with the broad goal to “advance financial literacy...

Co-Chair of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC), Richard Byles, says Jamaica can expect a period of greater prosperity, having surpassed the more austere aspects of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. Mr. Byles, who is also President and Chief Executive Officer of Sagicor Group Ltd., speaking at the company’s Pension Investment Fund (PIF) seminar, at the Jamaica Conference Centre,...

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) has increased its support to small businesses and self-employed persons, under the Special Taxpayer Assistance Programme, to enable them to meet this year’s March 15 deadline for filing income tax returns Communications Officer, Leighton Beckles, told JIS News that the TAJ has been hosting sessions for these groups, free of cost, islandwide. “Small business persons and...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, says she is committed to ensuring that Jamaica fulfills the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) targets for the January to March quarter and, by extension, the 2015/16 fiscal year. This, by using her knowledge and experience in business, gained locally and internationally, to guide her engagements...

Minister of State with responsibility for the Public Service, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, says his first order of business will be to complete negotiations with the public sector groups that are yet to sign on to the Heads of Agreement for wage increases and improved benefits for the 2015/17 period. “I know we are 98 percent complete but I will meet...