ORC Installs Help Line to Facilitate Implementation of New Companies Act

As the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) prepares for the implementation of the new Companies Act on February 1, 2005, it has installed a Help Line to provide support to company directors, business operators, lawyers, accountants and other stakeholders.

The Help Line will be operational for at least the first quarter of 2005, informed Simonie Barrett, Restoration and Disqualification Supervisor at the ORC.

She told JIS News that, “any query that arises out of new processes, new forms or just general information that customers would want, would be handled through the Help Line”.

The Help Line number is 906-6954, and will be accessible from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Fridays.

According to Deputy Chief Executive Officer at ORC, Shellie Leon, the implementation of the new Act promises to enhance the environment within which businesses in Jamaica operate, consequently encouraging development in the commerce sector.

She also told JIS News that the updated law, would seek to bring Jamaica in line with the legislative provisions of other CARICOM territories, and as such, would help to facilitate the smooth functioning of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), also scheduled for implementation next January.

Highlighting the changes to the 1965 law, Miss Leon pointed out that among other things, the 2004 Act made the formation process for new companies “more simple.”

Additionally, there is now greater convenience in the formation of a company, as the Companies Act of 2004 now gives credence to one-man companies.