Jamaica
-
Yes to trade and aid: What of rule of law?
KINGSTON, Jamaica – CARIBBEAN Community (CARICOM) governments often reveal surprising reluctance to publicly respond to challenges relating to violations of fundamental human rights and the rule of law when, generally, the United States of America is involved. This attitude was quite in evidence prior to and during meetings with US Vice-President Joseph Biden last month in Port of Spain, where…
Read More » -
‘Don’t even think about it’ – King warns against int’l debt default
KINGSTON, Jamaica – After a couple of highly successful debt-swap programmes in the last three years, two economists have warned that Jamaica should not even contemplate a similar move for its foreign obligations. Such a move, warned Dr Damien King, head of the Department of Economics at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, would have devastating consequences for…
Read More » -
Multinational loans won’t stabilise dollar – IMF rep
KINGSTON, Jamaica – DR GENE LEON, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) senior resident representative to Jamaica, has branded as illusionary, the view that an inflow of hard currency from the multinationals will bring stability to the country's foreign exchange market. Leon, who was a guest at The Gleaner's Editors' Forum on Wednesday, said stability results from earning enough foreign exchange…
Read More » -
Import duty hike will punish J’can consumers – economists
KINGSTON, Jamaica – A LEADING economist says Jamaicans would be punished with higher prices if the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA) is able to successfully lobby the Government to increase import duties to protect local markets. “You have to realise that the JMA sector and … consuming Jamaicans have diametrically opposed interests. If the JMA gets its way, you pay more…
Read More » -
Thousands of children engaged in child labour in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says it is committed to the elimination of all forms of child labour in the country. “Our determination in this goal is unshakable and we will remain engaged with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the European Union, and other international and local partners in this endeavour,” said Labour and Social Security Minister Derrick…
Read More » -
Jamaica to benefit from Canadian investments
KINGSTON, Jamaica – JAMAICA and other Caribbean countries are to benefit from three new investments from Canada aimed at increasing private sector-led development and alleviating poverty in developing countries The announcement was made by Canada's Minister of International Cooperation Julian Fantino Tuesday during an address to the 19th annual Conférence de Montréal in Quebec. He said Canada is providing further…
Read More » -
Fixed exchange rate won’t solve Ja’s problem – IMF representative
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Dr Gene Leon, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) senior resident representative to Jamaica, is arguing that discussions on whether Jamaica should go the way of a fixed exchange rate is misplaced. Leon, along with economists Dr Damieon King and Dr André Haughton, who were guests at a Gleaner Editors' Forum yesterday, said Jamaica needs to focus on…
Read More » -
TRAPPED! IMF rep says without key policy changes, Jamaica will remain in economic rut
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) outgoing senior resident representative in Jamaica, Dr Gene Leon, has warned that whether the country can claw its way from under the mountain of debt it now faces will depend on the policies that are put in place. Leon, who was speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum at the newspaper's central Kingston…
Read More » -
Prime Minister goes on short holiday
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller left here Tuesday “for a short vacation,” according to an official statement. It gave no details except to say that “she will return to the island on Saturday, June 15” The brief statement said that Transport, Works and Housing Minister Dr. Omar Davies will be in charge of the government during…
Read More » -
Caribbean, Chinese talk business in New York
KINGSTON, Jamaica – As Caribbean governments seek new investors, the Chinese are urging them to capitalise on a business development and investment promotion trip to China coming up this fall. The offer, which was made at the Avalon Invest Caribbean Now Forum last Wednesday in New York comes days after China's president, Xi Jinping offered concessionary loans to nine Caribbean…
Read More »