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KINGSTON — Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, says he is confident that the issues surrounding the outstanding International Monetary Fund (IMF) quarterly review, will be resolved by year end. He noted that the matters which the Government is discussing at the highest level with the Fund, include tax reform, pension reform, the sale...

KINGSTON — Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Brian Wynter, is urging the productive sector to sharpen its focus on productivity, in support of the national effort to grow the economy now that economic stability has been achieved. Addressing the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce Luncheon Forum, at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on Tuesday September 13, Mr. Wynter...

KINGSTON — The World Bank has approved a development policy loan of US$100 million (J$8.6 billion) for Jamaica. This was disclosed by Minister of Finance, Hon. Audley Shaw, when he opened the debate on the first Supplementary Estimates for 2011/12, in the House of Representatives on September 8. Mr. Shaw informed that the loan will be at an interest rate...

KINGSTON — Minister with responsibility for the Public Service in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Senator the Hon. Arthur Williams, has called for more investments, across all sectors, to meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) commitments. Speaking at the Kiwanis Club of Montego Bay's 45th Anniversary meeting at the Wexford Hotel, on Thursday September 8, Mr. Williams noted that...

KINGSTON — Minister of Finance, Hon. Audley Shaw, has informed that the Government is currently evaluating firm offers for the divestment of Clarendon Alumina Production Limited (CAP). "I should indicate that the early divestment of CAP would result in a positive improvement on the public body’s balances, should that be accomplished within this fiscal year,” Mr. Shaw said. The Minister...

KINGSTON — Minister of Finance, Hon. Audley Shaw, says now that economic stability has been secured, the productive sector must increase efforts to grow the economy through investment, enhanced productivity and innovation. Mr. Shaw, who was addressing the 3rd Financial Services Commission Expo, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston on Thursday, September 8, said that with the realization of...

KINGSTON — This week's debate on the First Supplementary Estimate for 2011/12 has been postponed until Thursday September 8. The Estimates were tabled by Minister of Finance, the Hon Audley Shaw, in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, August 30, and should have been debated Wednesday September 7, as the Government seeks to complete the process prior to the International...

KINGSTON — Trade Unionist, Sir Leroy Trotman, has emphasised  that tripartite social dialogue is a critical component in establishing a partnership in the "real economy" for wealth creation and sustainability. The real economy, he explained, is made up of  Government, employers, workers and workers' representatives. Sir  Leroy, a Barbadian, was making his presentation at a  seminar hosted by the Public...

KINGSTON — The development of strategies to protect domestic workers' rights, and the creation of a gender-sensitive checklist, which will provide recognition, and labour and social protection for these workers, are high on the agenda of policy makers, representatives of expert organisations and civil society from across the world, who are now engaged in a two-day conference in Kingston. Participants...

KINGSTON — A major step towards a strategy critical to discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the current Standby Agreement (SBA) was how Financial Secretary, Dr Wesley Hughes, described a two-day Public Sector Monitoring Committee Seminar which opened at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, on Tuesday September 6. Dr. Hughes reiterated that the last completed IMF review...

KINGSTON — Government is offering food exporters a special loan of $100 million and  general assistance, to bring their operations up to standard to meet the new United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements, which take effect in January, 2012. Making the announcement at a press conference at the Ministry, in New Kingston, on September 6, Minister of...

Focus will be placed on the vulnerability of migrant domestic workers when a two-day Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) is convened in Jamaica, beginning Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at the Jamaica Conference Centre, under the theme: Domestic Care Workers at the Interface of Migration and Development: Action to Expand Good Practice. Hosted by the Planning Institute of Jamaica...