Majority of Waivers to GoJ Institutions

$1.15 Billion of $1.84 Billion for GoJ Institutions & Contracts 

The Minister of Finance and The Public Service (MOFPS) has issued summary data for waivers approved for the month of February, as set out in the table below. A total of $1,841,789,198.88 waivers was issued, with the bulk ($1,151,291,466.46) going to GoJ-related transactions.

Government contracts accounted for $643,054,642.37 of all waivers while Government Institutions were granted another $508,236,824.09, making for a total of $1,151,291,466.46 in discretionary waivers granted to the Government of Jamaica.

Waivers issued to the Manufacturing sector under the Modernization of Industry Act (MOI) totalled $10,867,076.10. The sector received another $12,180,310.43 in waivers, primarily for manufacturing inputs.  

The Agricultural sector received $7,935,165.06 in direct waivers, with a further $477,594,579.73 granted on agricultural imports for the hotel sector.

Charitable institutions received $166,816,025.53 in discretionary waivers.

Beneficiaries under the Land Administration Management Programme (LAMP) received $481,887.00 in waivers, while waivers to the tune of $56,995,027.55 were also issued for the importation of beef trimmings to the producers of beef patties – a staple for school children and low-income earners.

SUMMARY DATA FOR FEBRUARY 2011

CLASSIFICATION

TOTAL WAIVED J$

GOJ Contracts

643,054,642.37

GOJ Institutions

508,236,824.09

Approved Agricultural Activity (AAA)

7,935,165.05

Agriculture not under AAA (inputs to hotel sector)

447,594,579.73

Charitable

166,816,025.53

Modernization of Industry

10,867,076.10

Manufacturing not under MOI

12,180,310.43

Tourism sector

3,377,578.95

Other

41,245,109.62

TOTAL

$1,841,789,198.88

Noting that information on waivers granted by the MOFPS is posted monthly on its website, the finance minister thanked the media for its role in “improving accountability and transparency in all areas of public expenditure and the handling of taxpayers' money”.

Minister Shaw also urged media professionals to “continue to join hands with the Ministry of Finance and The Public Service to raise public awareness about other critical issues on our economy and the nation’s business”.

Issued by: The Ministry of Finance & The Public Service