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KINGSTON — The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) provided funding of more than US$18 billion for Aid for Trade activities in the Central American and Caribbean regions between 2008 and 2010, said IDB Representative in Jamaica, Ancile Brewster. Mr. Brewster, who was speaking at the launch of Jamaica’s Aid for Trade Strategy recently at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston, said...

KINGSTON — Minister with responsibility for Information and the Public Service, Senator the Hon. Arthur Williams, says that the Government will remain steadfast in resolving the main issues relating to the ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on its Standby Agreement. He said that addressing tax reform, public sector pension reform, the sale of Clarendon Alumina Partners (CAP)...

KINGSTON — Despite the present fragility in the global environment, the Jamaican economy will continue to stabilize, while the reforms being undertaken will lay the foundation for sustained growth. This, according to the Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Brian Wynter, as he addressed the recent economic forum  convened by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica, (ICAJ). In a...

KINGSTON — The Caribbean is expected to benefit significantly from financing provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), following a recent increase in the institution's funding resources, which have moved from US$7 billion to US$12 billion per annum. Representative of the IDB in Jamaica, Ancile Brewster, said regional integration and private sector development in the Caribbean are among the areas...

KINGSTON — The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), in its latest report on remittances, said that during the month of August, total remittance inflows were US$174.6 million, an improvement of US$17.8 million or 11.4 per cent over the corresponding period last year. Net remittances for the month, after accounting for outflows, were US$148.9 million, which represented an improvement of US$15.0 million...

Senior Advisor in the Public Sector Establishment Division of the Cabinet Office, Wayne Jones, has underscored the importance of civil servants, at all levels, having an understanding of their roles and responsibilities in the delivery of public services. This, he contends, is necessary within the context of the transformation process currently being effected within the public sector. Speaking at the...

KINGSTON — Minister of Finance, Hon. Audley Shaw, says his Ministry is having discussions with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), on structural benchmarks identified by the Government to strengthen the economy and increase its competitiveness. Speaking at the launch of Jamaica’s National Aid for Trade Strategy on Thursday (October 27), Mr. Shaw said these areas include tax, pension and public...

KINGSTON — Discussions aimed at informing the implementation of the tax reform measures in early 2012, is gathering momentum. On Wednesday, October 26, the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and the University of Technology (UTech) staged a panel discussion on Tax Reform, at the University Campus, in Kingston, with special focus on the proposals outlined in the Green Paper on...

The Governor General will swear-in the first two Cabinet Ministers of the Government of Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, this afternoon, (Oct 24) at 1:00p.m. at Kings House. Mr. Audley Shaw will be sworn-in as Minister of Finance and Senator Dwight Nelson will be sworn-in as Minister of National Security. Both are retaining portfolio responsibilities.

KINGSTON — Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Brian Wynter, is batting for a strong and independent Central Bank to achieve the goals important to the Jamaican economy. Governor Wynter, keynote speaker at the recent 12th Annual Sir Arthur Lewis Institute ofSocial and Economic Studies (SALISES) Conference, at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, described an autonomous central...

MONTEGO BAY — The Debt Management Branch of the Ministry of Finance, formerly known as the Debt Management Unit, is undergoing comprehensive overhaul. According to Portfolio Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, the necessary changes, to allow for additional specialists and software tools, among other things, were in keeping with the fiscal responsibility structure put in place by the Government. “We have...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Finance, Hon. Audley Shaw, has expressed support for the formation of an Association of Debt Managers in the Caribbean, noting that nine of the most heavily indebted countries in the world are in the region. Addressing the seventh annual meeting of  the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Debt Management Specialists,  held on  October 19,...