A total of 32 product standards were promulgated by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) in 2020. These are related to cannabis (3); hand sanitisers (1); toy safety (6); household and similar electrical appliances (5); fluorescent and led lamps (2); electric cables, insulation, conductors and enclosures (9); refrigerating appliances (3); pre-packaged goods (2); and bamboo straws (1). Eight standards were...

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) is celebrating 20 years as the Government’s premier agency for supporting the development of the micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) sector in Jamaica. Established in 2001, the entity provides business development services from concept to market. These include offering guidance for business start-ups and expansion; business advice and consultation; research services; business monitoring,...

The Office of the Supervisor of Insolvency (OSI) says there are many benefits for individuals having a positive credit score. Speaking with JIS News, Deputy Supervisor of Insolvency, Fayola Evans-Roberts, said that there are increased opportunities for persons who have a reputation of a positive credit score. A credit score is a number assigned by a mathematical algorithm that converts...

Jamaicans will be able to access a wealth of information about credit repair at the Caribbean Credit Repair Association (CCRA) Credit Restoration Virtual Summit. The two-day summit will be held on Thursday, July 22 and Friday July 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and streamed on the Financially Focused Facebook page and YouTube channel. The theme for the event...

Jamaica recorded declines in import expenditure and export earnings during the January to March 2021 quarter, relative to the corresponding period in 2020. Data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) show that imports were valued at just over US$1.3 billion, representing a 2.3 per cent decline, while exports earnings totalled US$354.6 million, a decrease of 0.1 per cent. STATIN...

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting that higher outputs in construction, and mining and quarrying, largely spurred the goods producing industry’s 2.6 per cent growth for the January-March 2021 quarter. Director-General of STATIN, Carol Coy, says construction grew by 10.5 per cent, and mining and quarrying, 7.1 per cent during the review period. She was speaking during STATIN’s...

The National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA) says the organisation is committed to its role in preserving the safety of food consumed locally. Speaking with JIS News, Inspector, NCRA, Lenworth Clarke, said the Authority continues to monitor local stakeholders to achieve conformance to established standards. “We maintain a strong enforcement programme by ensuring that standards or regulations are met. We...