KINGSTON, Jamaica, Observer - Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has confirmed that a second debt exchange programme will be implemented. In a joint national broadcast with the Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips this evening, Simpson Miller said the programme called a National Debt Exchange Offer will be launched Tuesday morning. The debt exchange is part of measures that the Government is relying on to reduce the debt from the current 140 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Observer - GOVERNMENT has agreed to a number of preconditions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of a requirement for an extended fund facility with the multinational. Some of the preconditions were announced last night buy the finance minister, Dr Peter Phillips, during a joint national broadcast to the nation with Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. They include: Tax waivers to go Minister says concrete steps will be taken to reduce and virtually eliminate discretionary tax waivers. Parliament will be provided with details today.