Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says a robust set of protocols have been developed to protect tourism workers and provide other safeguards, as the industry prepares to restart operations that have been halted due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “Our Ministry, along with the Ministry of Health [and Wellness], signed off [on May 31] with perhaps...

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service is finalising the validation of applications on behalf of 22,000 workers, for the Business Employee Support and Transfer of Cash (BEST Cash) component of the Government’s COVID Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme. The applications were received from 300 employers. Speaking at a press conference at Jamaica House on May 31,...

Operators of motorcars with public passenger vehicle (PPV) licences will now be allowed to carry the full complement of passengers, as stipulated by the licence. This was announced by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, as he outlined several relaxed coronavirus (COVID-19) measures, during a virtual press conference on Sunday (May 31) at the Office of the Prime Minister...

In keeping with its strategy to expand online payment offerings and to promote selfservice business transactions, Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) has initiated a project to explore an online payment option for the renewal of Motor Vehicle Registration Certificate (MVRC). Against this background TAJ is conducting a survey, which is designed to test the appetite of motorists on whether or not...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced an extension of the islandwide curfew implemented to contain transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The existing hours of 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. will remain in place until the morning of June 14. Thereafter, the curfew will begin at 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. until June 30. Mr. Holness was...

An additional five persons will now be allowed to attend weddings, bringing the maximum number up to 15, as the Government continues to relax the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who made the announcement during a virtual press briefing on Sunday (May 31), said that the 15 wedding attendees include the person officiating the ceremony....

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, says grants totalling $3.6 billion have been transferred to persons applying for assistance under the Government’s COVID Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme. These recipients, Dr. Clarke says, include 337,000 of the 375,000 persons deemed eligible for Compassionate Grants, and 12,000 of 30,000 people qualifying for the...