Wednesday, May 06, 2015. BY STEVEN JACKSON Business reporter jacksons@jamaicaobserver.com
THE Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) wants the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team currently in the island to overlook the Government’s primary surplus shortfall based on improvements to the macro-economy.
“Jamaica should be granted a waiver on the performance of the primary surplus,” asserted Richard Byles, co-chair of EPOC, at his monthly press briefing held at the Sagicor head office in Kingston yesterday.
Byles added that the the shortfall should be seen within the context of lower inflation and drought which slowed growth. He indicated that the country continued to show a strong commitment towards achieving the “aggressive” 7.5 per cent primary surplus target.