The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting that inflation declined by 0.3 per cent in April 2014, the lowest since July 2012. The figure was captured by STATIN’s All Jamaica ‘All Divisions’ Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is a gauge for assessing the performance of the economy, and measures changes in the general level of prices of consumer...

Registrar of the Department of Cooperatives and Friendly Societies (DCFS), Errol Gallimore, is reassuring private individuals engaged in charitable activities that the new regime will continue to facilitate their goodwill. Formerly, individuals who operate charities outside of Jamaica would request waiver letters from the Ministry of Finance and Planning in order to clear items donated to children’s homes, communities or...

Twenty-five procurement specialists and lawyers across the public sector are set to benefit from five days of training in procurement law and practice. The training is being held from May 12 to16 at the offices of the Management Institute for National Development (MIND), Old Hope Road. It is intended to equip procurement specialists and lawyers across the sector with invaluable...

The Government has signed six support agreements with the European Union (EU), which provide $11.5 billion of grant-funding to crucial areas of the society. The agreements expand several programmes that are already being supported by the EU in the sugar industry, justice, governance projects, community development initiatives, poverty reduction and income generating projects, and support in technical capacity building. Speaking...

Economist and University Lecturer, Dr. Andre Haughton, says the Government had no better option than to raise new taxes to help finance the budget this financial year. “The additional taxes that the Government is collecting this year are really in an effort for them not to borrow any additional sums,” Dr. Haughton argued. The Economist gave his views during an...

World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean, Sophie Sirtaine has hailed the Government of Jamaica’s ‘strong commitment’ to the Economic Reform Programme. Ms. Sirtaine, who was addressing journalists at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on May 6, said economic reform for the country was not an easy one due to vulnerability to disasters and economic shock. However, she said...

Over 80,000 residents of inner-city communities islandwide will benefit from significant provisions under the Government’s $4.63 billion (US$42 million) Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP), over the next six years. The initiative, being financed by a loan from the World Bank, will involve implementation of enhanced basic infrastructure and social services, and targeted crime and violence reduction interventions, among other inputs....