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KINGSTON — Jamaica has a good shot at success as an International Financial Centre (IFC), Chairman of the Jamaica International Financial Services Authority (JIFSA), Eric Crawford, told the Diaspora Convention in Ocho Rios, Thursday June 16. “It’s a very high value added industry everywhere it exists. In fact, the wealthiest economies in the world are international financial centres, and Jamaica...

OCHO RIOS — Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw has called on members of the Jamaican Diaspora to join with the government to further drive the economic and social development of the country. Mr. Shaw said with the country’s economy stabilised, it is time for the Diaspora to think of ways it can assist the government...

KINGSTON — Former Century National boss, Don Crawford, Tuesday June 7 blamed orchestrated threats against his life for his exile in the United States since 1996. Mr. Crawford claimed that he was cheated and fraudulently robbed of all his assets, and forced into involuntary exile because of the threats. “By all intents and purposes, were it not for God, I...

KINGSTON — Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Brian Wynter has said that Jamaica is going through a period of "remarkable change," with the values of fiscal discipline and accountability being strengthened. He noted that these are now being embedded in law and practice. “Laws have actually been passed. This is the first fiscal year in which the new methods...

Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding (2nd right), has the full attention of  Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Naoyuki Shinohara (2nd left), during a meeting this morning (June 6) at the IMF headquarters in Washington DC. Also participating in the talks (seated from left) are: IMF Deputy Director, Gilbert Terrier; IMF Mission Chief, Trevor Alleyne; Assistant IMF...

KINGSTON — Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon Audley Shaw, says his Ministry is taking steps to generate competition among financial institutions, particularly commercial banks, to induce interest rate reductions. This is against the background of “record low’ interest rates of 6.75 per cent currently offered at the Bank of Jamaica (BoJ), Mr. Shaw said, while reiterating his...

KINGSTON — Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, says the revision of the import tax regime will bring the cost of new motor vehicles within the reach of most Jamaicans. Opening the 2011/12 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives April 28, Mr. Shaw had announced that the Common External Tariff (CET) applicable to motor cars,...

KINGSTON — Finance and Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, has pledged to ensure that all details of the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP) are fully disclosed to the public as the works progress. He said that the Government is committed to ensuring absolute transparency in the execution of the project. “This year, 153 roads are going to be constructed,...

KINGSTON — Cabinet is expected to take another look at the issue of the outstanding salaries for public sector workers when it meets on Monday at Jamaica House. In the meantime, Minister of State for Finance and the Public Service, Senator Arthur Williams, says that he will be sending formal copies of the Government’s most recent offers to the unions,...

KINGSTON — Former receiver for Thermo-Plastics Jamaica, Richard Downer, told the FINSAC Commission of Enquiry Tuesday (May 31) that he could not confirm if there was political interference in the disposal of the assets, as well as those of sister company Plas Pak Limited, after the 1990s financial sector meltdown. “It was a matter of opinion,” Mr. Downer told the...

KINGSTON — The Financial Sector Adjustment Company (FINSAC) Commission of Enquiry says it will reconsider a request to subpoena former Prime Minister, Most Hon P.J. Patterson, but has concluded that it will call former Cabinet Minister, Dr. Karl Blythe. Chairman of the Commission, Worrick Bogle, said Tuesday (May 31), that a letter will be sent to Dr. Blythe this week,...

KINGSTON — The Students Loan Bureau (SLB), in an effort to collect some $1 billion owed by delinquent borrowers, has extended its initial three month amnesty, which came to an end yesterday May 31 to August 31.  The additional three-month respite is being offered to SLB beneficiaries whose loans have matured, as well as those whose loans, though not matured,...