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Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Director General, Dr. Wayne Henry.

Lessons From Pandemic Can Aid Preparedness For Future Occurrences – Dr. Henry

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, says several valuable lessons have emerged from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that can potentially aid in bolstering stakeholder preparedness for similar and other future occurrences. Key among these,...

Director of Stakeholder Engagement, Communication and International Relations at the Financial Services Commission, David Geddes.

FSC To Stage Financial Forum

The home page of the JDIC’s new website.

JDIC Launches New Website

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, addresses the recent Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ) semi-virtual microinsurance conference at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. The event was held under the theme ‘Microinsurance – The Jamaican Perspective’.

Proposed Microinsurance To Benefit The Most Vulnerable

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, addressing the recent Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ) semi-virtual microinsurance conference at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. The event was held under the theme ‘Microinsurance – The Jamaican Perspective’.

Economic Recovery Gathering Pace – Minister Clarke

4 years ago Finance & Public ServiceInformation

Cross Roads Tax Office will not be open Monday, November 1

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is advising the public that the Cross Roads Tax Office will not be open to the public Monday, November 1, 2021. The decision was taken following an assessment of a malfunctioning air conditioning unit which caused smoke and fumes to be emitted into the building around mid-morning on Sunday. Service providers have already been contacted to...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon Nigel Clarke (centre), and Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) President and Jamaica Association of Local Government Officers (JALGO) General Secretary, Helene Davis Whyte (fourth left), display the signed the 2021/22 Heads of Agreement for wage increases for public sector workers represented by JCTU member unions. The signing was held at the Ministry offices in Kingston, on Friday (October 29). Others (from left) are Union of Schools, Agricultural and Allied Workers (USAAW) General Secretary, Keith Comrie; University and Allied Workers (UAWU) Vice President, Clifton Grant; National Workers Union (NWU) General Secretary, Granville Valentine; State Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Hon. Marsha Smith; Financial Secretary, Darlene Morrison; Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) President, Kavan Gayle; and Trade Union Congress (TUC) General Secretary, Barrington Dawes .

4 years ago Finance & Public Service

Gov’t Confident About Implementing Public Sector Compensation Review

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, says the Government is confident it will be able to commence implementation of the proposed public sector compensation review in April 2022. The review is intended to overhaul the structure of salaries and other emoluments in the civil service to make it more equitable. Dr. Clarke said this...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, addressing the Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ) semi-virtual microinsurance conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, on Wednesday (October 27). The event was held under the theme ‘Microinsurance – The Jamaican Perspective’.

4 years ago Economic Growth & Infrastructure DevelopmentFinance & Public Service

Government To Prioritise More Policies To Facilitate A More Inclusive Economy

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, says the Government will be prioritising additional policies that facilitate a more inclusive economy for Jamaicans. Dr. Clarke notes that work to this end has commenced with the introduction of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), now being piloted, and passage of the Microcredit Act in Parliament. He...

Executive Director, Transformation Implementation Unit (TIU), Maria Thompson Walters, addresses a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, at the agency’s head office in Kingston on Thursday, October 28, 2021.

4 years ago Finance & Public ServiceJIS Think Tank

Shared Corporate Services Impacting Government Positively

The introduction of shared corporate services (SCS) in the public sector is already having a positive impact on the operations of government. Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ today (October 28), Executive Director, Transformation Implementation Unit (TIU), Maria Thompson Walters, said that performance data from the pilots for Internal Audit and Human Resource Management are remarkable. She...

The House of Representatives began debate on the International Corporate and Trust Services Providers (Change of Name and Amendment) Act, 2021, on Wednesday (October 27).
Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, said the Bill seeks to amend the International Corporate and Trust Services Providers Act (the Principal Act), which was passed and assented to on August 18, 2017 and awaits an appointed day.
The Principal Act seeks to regulate international trust and corporate service providers to prevent the misuse of these business arrangements as vehicles for illicit ends, such as money laundering and terrorism financing.
“The Bill aims to remove the distinction in treatment between the domestic and international service providers by bringing domestic services providers under the ambit of the legislation and to strengthen the provisions of the Principal Act,” Dr. Clarke said.
He noted that the Principal Act sought to regulate providers of international trust and corporate services and applies to individuals, firms and companies that engage in the business of providing international services.
“However, whilst the Act awaited the development and promulgation of regulations, it was recognised that there was a need to include domestic corporate and trust providers into the regulatory ambit of the Act, because to maintain any distinction in treatment between the domestic and international service providers would run afoul of the requirements and standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requirements,” Dr. Clarke said.

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Debate begins…2
“Importantly, this was amongst the deficiencies cited in Jamaica’s anti-money laundering countering of terrorism financing supervisory regime and contributed to Jamaica’s inclusion in the current FATF grey list issued on February 21, 2020, as a jurisdiction subject to increased monitoring,” he added.
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The Minister said the amendment to the Act is critical to redeeming Jamaica’s standing and forms part of the suite of actions that are required for the country’s removal from any of those listings by FATF.
Debate on the Bill was suspended and will continue during another sitting of the House of Representatives.

4 years ago Finance & Public ServiceParliament

Debate Begins on Bill To Regulate International Trust And Corporate Service Providers

The House of Representatives began debate on the International Corporate and Trust Services Providers (Change of Name and Amendment) Act, 2021, on Wednesday (October 27). Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, said the Bill seeks to amend the International Corporate and Trust Services Providers Act (the Principal Act), which was passed and assented to...

4 years ago Finance & Public Service

Insurance Soon To Be A Reality For Informal And Small Businesses

Work is advanced on the proposed Microinsurance Bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament before the end of the 2021/22 fiscal year, on March 31, 2022. This was disclosed by Minister of Finance and the Public Services Dr. the Hon, Nigel Clarke, who said he anticipates the legislation’s passage during the 2022/23 fiscal year, which starts on April...

Programme Director, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Community Renewal Programme, Charles Clayton, makes a point during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank at the agency’s head office in Kingston on Wednesday (October 27).

4 years ago Finance & Public Service

Persons Invited To Register For PIOJ Symposium On Best Practices For Social And Community Renewal

Persons who work or have interest in the field of development and community interventions are being invited to register for the Symposium on Best Practices for Social and Community Renewal scheduled for Wednesday (November 10) at 9:00 a.m. The event, being held under the theme ‘Linking the Pieces: A Holistic Approach to Community Renewal’, is hosted by the Planning Institute...