Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, says equal emphasis is being placed on the achievement of economic growth, and on the inclusion of the micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSMEs), that will contribute to that growth. Addressing members of the Diplomatic Corps at a special forum at the Courtleigh Hotel, New Kingston, on February 5, Dr....

Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, says the government is confident of continued growth for the third and fourth quarters of fiscal year 2013/14. This, he says, is based on the administration’s implementation of the country’s economic programme, approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), under an Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Addressing members of the Diplomatic Corps...

The 2014/2015 Estimates of Expenditure  will be tabled in the House of Representatives on Thursday, April 3, by  Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips. The tabling will follow the State Opening of Parliament, when the Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, will deliver the Throne Speech outlining the Government’s priorities for the new...

Head of the Department of Economics at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Dr. Damien King, says that reforming the country’s tax code will bring about a fairer tax system, which will promote growth and bring in revenue. Dr. King made the comment in light of the recently passed Omnibus Legislation, which seeks to establish a transparent and coherent...

The Jamaica Customs Department will observe International Customs Day on January 26, as the agency begins a week of activities to mark Customs Week, from January 26 to 31. The theme for this year’s Day is: ‘Communication: sharing information for better cooperation’. Director of Communication at Jamaica Customs Department, Dania Beckford, told JIS News that the theme is fitting and...

Managing Director of the United States based investment firm, Oppenheimer and Company Inc., Gregory Fisher, says Jamaica is well positioned to make further economic gains this year, given what the government has done so far, under the tight economic programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Mr. Fisher said 2014 will be a very important year for Jamaica and pointed...

The Government has handed over a cheque valued at US$1.69 million to Carib Cement Company Limited as part payment for the provision of clinker to Venezuela, facilitated under the Trade Compensation Mechanism of the PetroCaribe Agreement. The initiative, which commenced in December last year, and is expected to last until May, will see Jamaica supplying Venezuela with some 100,000 tonnes...