EDITORIAL - The other side of the IMF agreement

KINGSTON, Jamaica - SHORT OF Jamaica quitting its borrowing habit cold turkey, this newspaper is convinced that an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the only game in town. We also believe that given our situation, the deal that has been struck with the IMF is on the best terms ...
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World Bank commends Jamaican Gov’t

WASHINGTON, DC, USA — The World Bank has commended the Jamaican Government on recent economic initiatives, including the National Debt Exchange (NDX), to secure the recent staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). "I have been listening keenly to the development in Jama...
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Keep The Queen - Advisor to British PM urges Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica -JAMAICA should step cautiously in its attempt to remove the Queen of England as head of state, as it could have adverse consequences, a special advisor to British Prime Minister David Cameron has said. Shaun Bailey, a budding, black politician who is of Jamaican heritage, told Ja...
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PSOJ warns of massive job losses

KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) is calling on the Government to immediately review and make changes to aspects of its new tax regime, which it said could do more harm than good to the economy. "The PSOJ is urging the Government to immediately review and change i...
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EDITORIAL - Poor economics, sovereign impotence

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Peter Phillips' public admission twice last week - of sovereign impotence in negotiating an economic support agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - should be powerful motivation for us to finally fix Jamaica's economy. Further, the shame of the circumstanc...
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Private sector urged to invest in new global trans-shipment project

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government is urging the private sector to support the initiative to develop the country’s global trans-shipment and logistics hub by taking advantage of the potential investment opportunities it provides. Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, A...
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The IMF, VW advert; CSME and the private sector

KINGSTON, Jamaica - The jury is still out about our Jamaican psyche. Yes, we are fun people but are we builders of civilisation, spectators or players, minstrels or masters? Are we in charge of our fate, or zombies? This IMF thing has unleashed a spirit of fear and some desperation. We seem beholden...
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Election ‘cliffs’ facing Barbados and Grenada

KINGSTON, Jamaica - THIS week, as Jamaicans brace themselves for severe belt-tightening because of the accord to be signed between the Government and the IMF, two incumbent parties in the Eastern Caribbean will be struggling to avoid becoming one-term administrations. The governments facing this sur...
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Sacrifice demands that Gov’t lead by example

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Observer- IT'S heavy — this $16 billion in new taxes being imposed on us by the Government. There is no doubt either that it will hurt most Jamaicans. After all, many of us, particularly PAYE workers, are already overtaxed. The fact, though, is that the Government has li...
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$45-m crop programme to help counter effects of drought

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Observer - MINISTER of Agriculture and Fisheries Roger Clarke this week announced a $45-million crop production programme as part of the Government's drought-mitigation initiative for the sector. The programme, he said, will provide for the establishment of 645 hectares of sel...
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