The House of Representatives, on July 30, passed the Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2013, to regularise measures already in place, and make permanent, the revenue measures that were introduced as at April 1. “It does not represent new or additional measures,” said Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips. The changes, which were implemented by way of...

Minister of Finance and the Planning, Hon. Dr. Peter Phillips, says the Government’s revenue target for this fiscal year will not be altered. He was responding to a question submitted by Opposition Spokesman, Audley Shaw, in the House of Representatives on July 30, as to whether the ban on smoking in specified spaces would impact sales, and by extension the...

Cabinet has given the nod for the introduction of a Bill, which is expected to facilitate increased access to credit, and enhance the business environment. The Security Interest in Personal Property Act (2013) is designed to implement a legal framework to modernise and improve the availability of domestic credit to the private sector, while minimising the risk of loan repayment....

Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Hon. Horace Dalley, says the Government is confident of passing the first quarterly test under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He was speaking on Tuesday, July 2, in his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives. Mr. Dalley’s presentation...

The Government of Jamaica is moving to speed up the contract award process. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Hon. Horace Dalley, said Cabinet has embarked on a programme through the infrastructure subcommittee of Parliament. The aim, he said, is to improve efficiency so as to facilitate completion within 120 days. The Minister, who was speaking...

Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Hon. Horace Dalley, has stated that no new wage increases have been granted to any member of the public sector, including parliamentarians and ministers. Mr. Dalley, in his Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 2, said there has not been any increase in salaries to...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Hon. Horace Dalley, has dismissed speculation that the Government has plans to remove the 20 per cent duty concession on motor vehicles, from which public sector travelling officers now benefit. Mr. Dalley, who has responsibility for the Public Service, said that fuelled by speculation surrounding commitments under the agreement with...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Hon. Horace Dalley, is assuring public sector workers, particularly security groups, that there is no need to take the option of early retirement, in order to secure pension lump sum entitlements. “The reformed pension system, to come on stream in 2016, will preserve the lump sum entitlement. This government is...