Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) Governor, Brian Wynter is assuring the country that there is no need for alarm over the movement in the exchange rate. “The bank and I are aware of the concerns about recent movements  in the exchange rate…I want to reassure you that the depreciation in the exchange rate thus far has been in keeping with our...

Member of Parliament for North West St. Ann, Dr. Dayton Campbell, is recommending that adjustments be made to the Student Loan Bureau (SLB) to focus on areas of study that are critical to nation development. “I believe the SLB should first concern itself with making loans available to persons pursuing tertiary studies in areas...such as Mathematics, Pharmacy, Engineering, the Sciences,”...

Director General in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Diane McIntosh, is advising Tax Auditors/Revenue Administrators not to allow themselves to be corrupted by persons trying to evade the tax system. “I want to impress upon you not to let yourself be deceived and facilitate them. Corruption in the tax system is counter-productive to the objective of collecting the required...

Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, is leading a delegation in Europe, where he is slated to engage in a series of meetings with financial institutions. The talks are intended to apprise agents in the international capital markets of developments on the government’s economic reform programme and the growth agenda. This was disclosed by Minister with...

The Government has set aside more than $16 million for the Jamaica Anti-doping Commission (JADCO) to conduct in and out of competition testing and public education programmes. This was disclosed by Minister with responsibility for Sport, Hon. Natalie Neita Headley, while making her contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, June 5. She said...

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) will be embarking on a behaviour change campaign aimed at getting more Jamaicans to pay their taxes. Communications Officer at TAJ, Leighton Beckles, made the disclosure to JIS News during a recent interview. The aim is to increase compliance through moral suasion. “What we intend to do is embark on a campaign, where we are winning...

Jamaica’s trade deficit narrowed by 0.3 per cent at the start of the year to US$401 million. The figure represents a US$1.2 million improvement over the US$402.2 million recorded for the corresponding period in January 2012. In terms of trade within the CARICOM region, the deficit was reduced by US$11.2 million or 18 per cent to US$51 million, down from...

An Act to facilitate the Financial Investigations Division (FID) membership in the Egmont Group was passed in the House of Representatives on May 28. The Egmont Group provides a forum for Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) globally, to improve cooperation in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing; and to foster the implementation of domestic programmes in this regard. In...