Jamaica

By mahtabala, 15 January, 2013

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says it has given approval for the necessary amendments to be made to the Customs Act as the island implements the tariff liberalisation aspect of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed between the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) countries and the European Union in 2008.

By mahtabala, 15 January, 2013

KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE recent announcement by the secretary general of the Caribbean Community, Irwin LaRocque, of fresh efforts to restructure the management of the regional economic integration movement would most likely raise new questions about the commitment of Heads of Government to implement decisions unanimously adopted.

By mahtabala, 14 January, 2013

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government is expected to update the nation later on Monday “on matters related to aspects of the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to an official statement issued here. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and members of her Cabinet are expected to address the media on the outcome of a three-day special Cabinet meeting that ended over the weekend and according to a statement issued later “good and steady progress” had been made “on important measures to be adopted in shaping the 2013/2014 budget”.

By mahtabala, 11 January, 2013

KINGSTON, Jamaica - FORMER Jamaican Ambassador to Venezuela Clifton Stone thinks that as long as Hugo Chavez's socialist party remains in power there is no danger to the Petrocaribe oil agreement which benefits Jamaica. "The danger would arise if the Opposition prevails and elections are called and they are victorious," Stone told the Jamaica Observer.

By mahtabala, 11 January, 2013

KINGSTON, Jamaica - We are not as concerned as most that Jamaica hasn't yet concluded a borrowing agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). For failure to conclude a deal will further narrow our options in the financial markets and perhaps force us into a cold-turkey kicking of our borrowing habit. Our greater fear is that the Government lacks the will to implement the policies that, with or without an IMF agreement, will be necessary if Jamaica is not to be sucked irretrievably deep into a fiscal black hole around which we have thrashed for too long.

By mahtabala, 11 January, 2013

KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) last night indicated that Cabinet has received an update from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) negotiating team and given directions for transmission to the IMF staff in order to bring about a conclusion to the negotiations. The update was received during day one of a special three-day meeting of the Cabinet at Jamaica House yesterday. During the meeting, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller reportedly outlined the administration's focus on growth, development and job creation.

By mahtabala, 11 January, 2013

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller says it is “necessary” for Jamaica to secure an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as her Cabinet ended the first day of a three-day meeting here.

By mahtabala, 10 January, 2013

KINGSTON, Jamaica - PRIVATE Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) President Christopher Zacca says Jamaica will be diving deep into an economic crisis if the country continues to be without an International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement.
What's more, Zacca figures that the longer it takes to seal a deal, the closer the country will get to falling over its own fiscal cliff.

By mahtabala, 10 January, 2013

KINGSTON, Jamaica - MR Delano Franklyn may well be right. Perhaps the Chicago Tribune was unfair in its adverse characterisation of the Jamaican economy, using Greece as a sort of measuring stick.
What is not in question, though, is that our economy is in an awful state — badly in need of restructuring. This, as a result of a downward spiral of goods production, in per capita terms, matched by an insatiable appetite for a lifestyle well above our means, over many, many years.

By mahtabala, 10 January, 2013

KINGSTON, Jamaica - There will be temptation among skittish members of the Government, we fear, to slink behind the recent acknowledgement by the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Chief Economist Olivier Blanchard that the Fund underestimated the potentially deflationary impact of its policies in Greece to escape having to make the hard choices on adjustment in Jamaica.