The Government of Jamaica is making significant strides in transforming the public sector into a more efficient and effective organisation. The most recent step in this regard is commencement of the pilot for the introduction of Shared Corporate Services (SCS) with two services – Internal Audit and Human Resource Management in February and March 2021, respectively. Implementation of SCS, which...

Business sector stakeholders remain optimistic that Jamaica can rebound from the economic fallout sparked by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, to record growth, beginning in fiscal year 2021/22. Industry leaders say their positive outlook is based on key provisions in the Government’s $830.8-billion Budget for the upcoming fiscal year and developments with COVID-19 vaccinations in Jamaica and main trading partners and...

Several regional stakeholders have endorsed the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) e-Campus’ new online Caribbean Securities Trader Professional Certificate Programme. The three-tiered Programme, delivery of which commenced on March 7, comprises the FX (Foreign Exchange) Trader, Caribbean Securities, and Brokerage Operations Management courses. It is designed to ensure that participants are fully equipped with a broad understanding of operations within the...

Food industry business stakeholders who implement the new ISO 22000:2018 Food Safety Management System (FSMS) Certification Standard in their operations stand to reap significant dividends over the long term. The Standard, which was launched recently by Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, is the latest product/service offering of the National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ). It outlines food-safety...

The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) has embarked on the implementation of a new product, the Innovation Grant Fund, to provide financial support for medium-sized companies looking to introduce or expand innovative processes, products, and/or services. General Manager for Strategic Services at the DBJ, Christopher Brown, tells JIS News that the facility aims to assist entities fulfilling the eligibility criteria...

Several leaders in academia, business and the civil service have endorsed the Government’s establishment of the Marcus Garvey Public Sector Scholarship Programme. The human capital develop initiative, named in honour of Jamaica’s first National Hero, the Rt. Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey, will see an initial 150 postgraduate scholarships being provided for public-sector officers over the next five years at a...

Urial Davis is grateful for the Compassionate Grant of $10,000 that he received from the Government last month. He says that the support, under the COVID Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) programme, has been a big help for his family. "I was very grateful. Trust me, you could see the smile on my face," he tells JIS News. “When...

The operations of approximately 20 State entities that facilitate imports and exports are earmarked for digitisation under the Jamaica Single Window for Trade (JSWIFT) initiative, which is being implemented by the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA). Jamaica. JSWIFT is a single electronic platform providing fully automated access to all cross-border regulatory agencies, enabling traders and their representatives to transact all businesses...

The Government continues to make it easier for persons to do business in Jamaica with the recent introduction of a ‘One Stop’ process for customers to get a Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC). The TCC, which is processed by Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), is an important document issued to an individual or company as proof that they are tax compliant and...