Jamaicans on April 1 began experiencing the impact of several new tax measures as announced by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke in opening the 2019/20 budget debates at Gordon House in Kingston on March 7th. These included: the abolishment of the Minimum Business Tax, Stamp Duty reduction, a reduction in Transfer Tax and...

From April 17th to May 1st, Jamaicans may purchase shares in Wigton Windfarm Limited, Jamaica’s wind energy facility. Eleven billion shares are being offered at 0.50 cents each under its Initial Public Offering (IPO). The minimum number of shares that can be purchased under this IPO is 2000. Details of the offer can be found in the Wigton Windfarm prospectus,...

World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on April 26th. Intellectual property is any original work resulting from an individual’s creative expression. Various expressions are ranked as intellectual property, these include: - Artistic works, such as designs, photographs, paintings, sketches, musical compositions, and choreography. - Inventions – usually tangible items, such as devices, as well as methods or processes for...

Every year following the Budget Debate, the House of Representatives – the Lower House – engages in another round of presentations known as the Sectoral Debates. Later in the year their counterparts in the Senate ¬– the Upper House – engage in the State of the Nation Debates.   Sectoral Debate The Sectoral Debate is based on a Motion brought...

Influenza A (H1N1), also known as swine flu, is a highly contagious respiratory infection. It is caused by a virus and can range from asymptomatic (present without symptoms), to severe. Up to April 2019, 116 cases have been confirmed in the island. Symptoms: As it is caused by an influenza virus, H1N1 manifests symptoms similar to other influenza virus-caused illnesses....

Trafficking in persons is the trade in persons for the purpose of forced labour or sexual exploitation. According to the National Taskforce Against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP) this crime is known to be the most under reported in the world. It is estimated that hundreds of Jamaicans are or have been victims of human trafficking. However, between 2010 and 2016,...

Every year, Jamaicans witness the pomp and pageantry signalling the ceremonial reopening of the Houses of Parliament. But just what happens within the walls of Gordon House after the sound of the band fades and the last well-dressed guest disappears inside that hallowed space? The Process:  The Governor General, who is escorted into the Parliament by the Chief of...