A Bill to amend the General Consumption Tax (GCT) Act was tabled in the Senate on Friday, September 19, paving the way for an improved tax collection system. Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, tabled the Bill, which was passed in the House of Representatives on September 17. It introduces a series of adjustments, which aim to facilitate the operation of...

The Jamaica Mortgage Bank (JMB) is the lead financier for the first phase of a major housing project on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, which will provide accommodation for 1, 584 students over the next three years. Ground was broken on Thursday (September 18) for the development, which is being undertaken at a cost of...

Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, says the economic growth momentum is expected to continue through to the end of the September quarter, despite the effects of the drought. He was addressing a post-Cabinet Retreat press briefing on September 17 at Jamaica House. Real economic activity expanded within the range of one to two per cent during...

The Government has mandated a Cabinet sub-committee to identify and remove impediments to growth projects, as well as pinpoint general economic measures to be undertaken, in order to enhance Gross Domestic Product (GDP) levels. Minister of Finance and Planning, Hon. Dr. Peter Phillips, made the announcement at a post-Cabinet Retreat press briefing on Wednesday, September 17, at Jamaica House. The...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has indicated that over the next fiscal year, there is significant potential for growth beyond what is projected under the Government’s Extended Fund Facility with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to the PIOJ, while the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth target is 1.5 to 2 per cent, there is prospect for up to...

The sixth staging of the Public Sector Customer Service Competition for 2014/2015 will be launched on Thursday, September 18, at the Penthouse, Ministry of Finance and Planning, 30 National Heroes Circle, Kingston, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Guest speaker will be President and Chief Executive Officer, Sagicor Group Jamaica Limited, Richard Byles. The competition is a biennial event staged by the...

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting that the inflation rate for August was 1.1 per cent, 0.3 per cent less than the 1.4 per cent recorded in July. STATIN says the rate for August was caused by a 2.7 per cent increase in prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages. In its monthly Consumer Price Index released on Monday,...