A sum of $51 million has been allocated in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before Parliament, to continue development of the Electronic Government Procurement system. The project, which commenced in 2011, is intended to strengthen the efficiency and quality of Jamaica’s public procurement process. This, through development of an electronic  system for government procuring and tendering agencies and suppliers,...

The project, being implemented by Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), aims to improve the regulatory, institutional, and administrative framework for business taxation, by reforming the tax appeal process and legislative framework. Work commenced in February 2014, and it is envisaged that when completed in 2016, the project will facilitate simplification of the business tax process by customizing the tax design and...

Research is being undertaken by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to address the issue of youth unemployment in the region. The announcement was made by Director of Economics at the CDB, Dr. Justin Ram, at a press briefing on the economic performance of CDB borrowing member countries, held on Wednesday, February 18, in Barbados. He said unemployment among young people...

Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies has been hailed for strengthening regulation of the financial sector and improving the Jamaica’s economic competitiveness. Former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson said Dr. Davies brought stability to the country’s financial system by strengthening and restructuring the banking and insurance industries. “The regulation of the financial sector, protecting customers, who needed financial services,...

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is currently conducting more than 100 free sessions across the island to assist taxpayers to file their income tax returns and other returns due in March. Communications Officer at the TAJ, Leighton Beckles, says the sessions are conducted by tax professionals in tax offices islandwide, as part of the TAJ’s taxpayer assistance programme during the tax...

The Betting, Gaming, and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) has embarked on a series of town hall meetings, aimed at heightening public and stakeholder knowledge and awareness about new standards and regulations governing engagements for which the agency provides oversight. Five such meetings are scheduled, the first of which took place in Negril, Westmoreland, on February 12. Addressing participants, BGLC Executive Director,...

Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, has again given the Government’s commitment to doing “everything possible” to accommodate claims for salary increases to civil servants for the 2015 to 2017 contract period. He, however, cautioned unions that while there is a “good basis” for the increases being sought, they must recognise that “there has to be a...