Cabinet-approved amendments to several laws governing Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) operations to make the entity more independent are expected to be tabled in Parliament in October.
This was disclosed by Finance and the Public Service Minister Dr Nigel Clarke, who said the proposed amendments relate to the Bank of Jamaica Act, Banking Services Act, and the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act.
Clarke was delivering a special policy address on the BOJ’s modernisation to a wide cross-section of stakeholders at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, St Andrew on Thursday.
He said the changes are intended to enhance the BOJ’s governance structure through clear demarcation and assignment of roles for policy decision-making and daily management.
The objective, he said, is to ensure that strong systems of accountability are in place at the BOJ in keeping with its revised mandate of pursuing and achieving low, stable and predictable inflation under the monetary policy.
He noted that under the proposed reforms, the Finance Minister will no longer have the ability to give directions on monetary policy, thereby giving the Central Bank greater autonomy and making the entity operationally independent.
This, he said, will involve strengthening existing statutory committees and establishing new ones.
Clarke explained that the Central Bank Governor will be required to submit policy statements on the BOJ’s performance in this regard to Parliament and to publish these at least every six months, or more often if so directed or determined.
Additionally, the finance minister said the BOJ Governor will be required to appear before Parliament at scheduled intervals to present monetary policy updates and answer questions.
Clarke said other key reforms designed to strengthen the BOJ’s independence include measures to ensure that the tenure of board members is long enough to facilitate their own independent inputs in monetary policy proceedings; and developing sufficient expertise and capabilities to enable directors to successfully discharge their functions.
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