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A Bill calling for Caribbean nationals to have their own ancestry category on the United States (US) Census Form for 2010, was recently introduced by Jamaican American Congresswoman, Yvette D. Clarke, of New York's 11th Congressional District, in the House of Representatives. The Bill calls for all questionnaires "used in the taking of any decennial census of the US population,...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Senator the Hon. Arthur Williams, has said that the Government remains committed to managing the public sector wage bill by improving the productivity of public sector wage earners. "If we can spend our limited resources better and ensure that we get value for money, then persistent talk about...

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding, has said that the Government is determined to prevent job losses in the public sector, even as it tries to contain the wage bill. "We have no desire or intention to make workers redundant. We know the hardships that they would bear," he stated yesterday (May 5) in his contribution to the 2009/10 Budget...

The National Housing Trust (NHT) will be spending $22 billion on housing solutions this year and providing mortgage loans to 7,899 beneficiaries. Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding, who made the announcement in his contribution to the 2009/10 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives today (May 5), said the Trust will be working in conjunction with the Ministry of...

Cabinet has approved a 15 per cent increase in the cost of a contract for the provision of security services at the Half-Way-Tree Transportation Centre. The original contract sum of $52,784,190 was awarded by the Port Authority of Jamaica to Protection and Security Limited and covered the three-year period 2008 to 2011. Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing on April...

Over $32 billion in capital investments were facilitated by the Government's investment promotion arm, Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), during the 2008/09 fiscal year, Minister of Industry, Investment, and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, told Parliament today (Wednesday, April 29). Making his presentation in the 2009/10 Budget Debate at Gordon House, Mr. Samuda pointed out that while final numbers were still...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, is reporting that the Scientific Research Council (SRC) has recorded significant achievements in its undertakings during the 2008/09 fiscal year. Making his contribution in the 2009/10 Budget Debate at Gordon House on Wednesday April 29, Mr. Samuda said the SRC's successes came, primarily, in the areas of formulations, crop/product and wastewater...

Minister of Industry, Investment, and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, tabled Jamaica's National Export Policy (NEP) during his 2009/10 Budget Debate presentation at Gordon House today (Wednesday, April 29). Mr. Samuda said that the policy was developed by the Government's investment promotion arm, Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), and the Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA), with assistance from the International Trade Centre...

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, has said that the long awaited Government Small Business Procurement Policy has been approved by the Cabinet. Mr. Samuda said that, under the policy, a minimum of 15 per cent of Government procurement will be reserved for micro and small enterprises. "These policy measures are intended to ensure that some of...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has announced that Government will establish a Central Treasury Management System (CTMS), during this financial year. "This new aspect of financial management involves a holistic approach to the management of public funds and will provide real short and long term fiscal benefits for the country," Mr. Shaw said, during the opening...

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service has implemented a new phase of the tax amnesty programme, which will run until the end of October. Jamaicans, who are not declaring income taxes, are being urged to use the period of the amnesty now underway, to become tax compliant. "Embrace the opportunity to be part of the process where we...

The Government has developed an economic framework in an effort to improve the quality of governance in the country. The framework will address key areas such as controlling public sector debt; rationalising public bodies; improving Central Government financial management and budget processes; increasing revenue collection; increasing growth and competitiveness; and managing the public sector wage bill. Minister of Finance and...