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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...

The Government will be increasing provisions under the social safety net to provide a cushion for Jamaicans as the country grapples with the current world financial crisis. "The global economic crisis only reinforces our commitment to ensuring that the most vulnerable members of our society are protected," said Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw as he...

The call-in programme, "Jamaica House Live", hosted by Prime Minister Bruce Golding, is on again this last Wednesday, April 29 from 8:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. The programme allows Jamaicans at home and abroad, to call and speak with the Prime Minister on any issue or concern that they might have. Issues are discussed and there is always follow-up action...

The Government is further reducing the rates for Stamp Duty and Transfer Tax this fiscal year, mainly to stimulate a revival in the real estate and construction sectors. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, told the House of Representatives on Tuesday(April 23), that Stamp Duty will be reduced from 4.5% to 3%, and Transfer Tax from...