Opposition Spokesman on Finance Mark Golding says the government could have given an additional $16 billion in tax breaks that would benefit "ordinary consumers" without reducing revenues in real terms. As an example, Golding says general consumption tax (GCT) could have been reduced from 16.5 per cent to return $16 billion
London, United Kingdom (AFP) —The British pound see-sawed Monday as traders jockeyed for position on the eve of another critical parliamentary vote for Prime Minister Theresa May. The UK currency kicked off the trading cycle in Asia by tanking to its lowest level since February 19 at $1.2949, but then
CHIEF Justice Bryan Sykes has committed to instituting measures to further improve service delivery across the judicial system. Among these, he says, are steps to ensure the delivery of outstanding judgements in the Supreme Court by December 31, 2019. Justice Sykes said that as of 2020, a judgement should be
Winston Lawson, the president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), wants a swift update on plans to install some 300 new security cameras in St James under the JamaicaEye initiative. The call comes against the background of a resurgence in violent crimes in the parish following
Caribbean Airlines (CAL) says the cost of repairing its aircraft which was damaged last week at Piarco International Airport in Trinidad will be covered by insurance. The cost is still being assessed. The plane was being operated by a licensed aircraft engineer. Preliminary reports indicate that soon after the aircraft
THE National Housing Trust (NHT) will undertake 8,640 housing starts for fiscal year 2019/20, exceeding the total number of housing for the three-year period 2012-2015 combined. The data was revealed by Finance Minister Nigel Clarke who opened the budget debate in Parliament on Thursday. Toward this objective, NHT plans to
The microfinancing bill that will bring small lenders under the regulatory umbrella of the Bank of Jamaica has been tabled in Parliament by Minister of Finance Dr Nigel Clarke, who says it’s meant to bring order to the market and constrain the predatory lending practices employed by some. The legislation
As credit unions creep slowly towards oversight by the central bank, which is now expected to take effect in July, the movement's umbrella group that acted as watchdog is trying to carve out a new direction for itself as a kind of consultant to the community banks. Jamaica Co-operative Credit
The self-employed have several options to build up financial resources for retirement – the Approved Retirement Scheme, unit trusts, managed funds and self-managed investment portfolios, most of which can deliver tax-free investment returns. The Approved Retirement Scheme is a private pension arrangement offered by financial institutions and is open to
Real estate experts are gearing up for more business, with the reduction in taxes on property transactions announced Thursday by Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke. The giveback comes at time when the sector is experiencing a slight softening of the market with a decline in the volumes of real estate
