Jamaica
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Small states, big problems: size does matter
KINGSTON, Jamaica – FOR decades the small developing states of the world, led by the advocacy of Caricom, have been at pains to explain to the world that their economies are very vulnerable to adverse external events, to which they have severely limited capacity for adjustment. On this basis their structural features, inability to attain economies of scale and their…
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Moderate quake rattles
(Jamaica Observer) – A moderate earthquake has rattled Trinidad & Tobago, causing some alarm, but no reported damage or injuries. The US Geological Survey says the magnitude-4.8 quake struck early yesterday and was centred some 50 miles north east of Roxborough, an eastern town on the tourism-dependent island of Tobago. It was also felt in the Caribbean country of Barbados.…
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Thirty-three Haitians land in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC- Thirty-three Haitians were taken ashore on Saturday afternoon after they were intercepted by Coast Guard officials off the coast of the eastern parish of Portland. The Haitians – 16 adult males, four adult females and 13 children including two infants were spotted by fishermen who alerted the marine police and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). They were…
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More than 500 J’cans deported from CARICOM states, Curaçao
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Foreign affairs and Foreign Trade is reporting that 271 Jamaicans were deported from CARICOM states in 2012. Another 254 Jamaicans were deported from Curaçao. This was revealed by AJ Nicholson, foreign affairs minister. He was responding to questions posed by Opposition senator Robert Montague in the Senate on Friday.
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Taxation uncertainty will drive investors from Jamaica, says O’Brien
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Chairman of the Digicel Group Denis O'Brien says recent uncertainties around taxation have impacted the level of foreign direct investment in Jamaica and will drive away investors from the island. At the same time, he said, notwithstanding its foray into the hospitality industry in Haiti, the telecommunications outfit will not be entering the local tourism sector. O'Brien,…
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EDITORIAL – Give PM free hand to restructure gov’t
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Today is to be the second and final day of a special session of the Cabinet to deal with what the Government has dubbed its growth agenda. It will have been the fourth such extraordinary meeting of ministers in the nearly 14 months since the People's National Party (PNP) regained the Government. We previously advised the minister…
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IMF agreement unlikely by month-end, says Golding
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Former Prime Minister Bruce Golding said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is unlikely to approve an extended fund facility for Jamaica by the end of March based on the schedule of the executive board. Golding said it is “a matter of concern” that the IMF updated its executive board calendar archive on its website on February 6…
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Jamaica developing national budget with IMF programme in mind
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says it has agreed on the upcoming national budget in keeping with a programme being worked out with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A statement issued at the end of the first day of the Cabinet retreat, said that the Portia Simpson Miller administration completed all prior actions required to successfully sign an…
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CARICOM confidence must not fail now
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Below is an edited version of a public lecture by Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, assistant secretary general of the OAS, at the UWI, Mona, on March 19. A few weeks ago, I read two separate headlines in the Caribbean press about CARICOM, which may have confused many. The headlines, which came within days of each other, were…
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Chamber of Commerce says no IMF deal before April
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC), Francis Kennedy says it is highly unlikely that the country will seal a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before the end of next month. On Tuesday Finance Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips said he was still hopeful that Jamaica's IMF programme will be approved before the end…
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