caricom business
-
Barbados to relax quarantine requirements effective May 8: CARICOM BUSINESS
Effective May 8, vaccinated persons entering Barbados will only be made to quarantine pending the results of one locally administered COVID-19 PCR test. This could result in a quarantine period as little as 24 hours. According to Prime Minister Mia Mottley, a vaccinated person is defined as someone who in a two-dose regime had received both doses plus 14 days,…
Read More » -
CDB Projects Return to Economic Growth in 2021: CARICOM BUSINESS
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is reporting that the economies of its 19 Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs) contracted by 12.8% on average in 2020 but is projecting an average GDP growth of 3.8% in 2021. According to the Bank in 2020, the majority of BMCs registered double-digit declines in GDP. Countries with significant tourism industries, such as The Bahamas, Barbados,…
Read More » -
Grenada regains majority shareholding in electricity provider: CARICOM BUSINESS
Grenada’s light and power company monopoly, Grenlec, will continue to operate as a private company, although the government has repurchased the majority shares owned by WRB Enterprises. Through a US$63-million settlement, which is US$12 million less than an arbitration award, the government regained control of the 50% shareholding sold to WRB Enterprises in 1994. In addition, the government has also…
Read More » -
SVG’s 2020 revenues higher than 2019 — Finance Minister: CARICOM BUSINESS
In a break with tradition, the government of St Vincent and The Grenadines, in the absence of a budget for 2021, received approval from Parliament to borrow EC$125 million for capital expenditure for next year. Public Sector Investment Loan No. 2 Act 2020, presented by Minister of Finance, Camillo Gonsalves, authorises the government to raise funds to assist the government…
Read More » -
Internet access to be declared a public good in Jamaica: CARICOM BUSINESS
The Government of Jamaica is to roll out a broadband expansion programme, dubbed the National Broadband Initiative, which will seek to provide Internet connection to every household by 2025. According to Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Daryl Vaz, the Government will make access to the Internet a public good. The objectives of the initiative are to: achieve universal access;…
Read More » -
30% of tourism workers set to resume work amidst fallout: CARICOM BUSINESS
Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says since its borders reopened in June, they have welcomed 300,000 visitors yielding some US$150 million. According to Bartlett, if the current arrival trend is sustained over the winter season, then about 30% of the 170,000 workers directly employed in the tourism industry should return to work. In the meantime, tourist arrivals in Dominica have…
Read More » -
Jamaica moves towards an Independent Fiscal Commission: CARICOM BUSINESS
The Government of Jamaica has initiated action to institutionalise fiscal transparency and strengthen its fiscal responsibility framework by way of an Independent Fiscal Commission. This was effected through tabling a Bill to that effect in the House of Representatives. According to Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke, “the fiscal commission will be the guardian and interpreter of Jamaica’s fiscal rules, monitoring…
Read More » -
St Lucia to introduce Tourism Levy December 15: CARICOM BUSINESS
The Government of St Lucia will introduce a tourism levy effective December 15, 2020 to aid in the financing of the industry marketing and development. In a two-tier system, guests will be charged either US$3 or US$6 per person per night depending on a room rate below or above US$120. A rate of 50% of the tourism levy will apply…
Read More » -
New company registrations soar in Jamaica: CARICOM BUSINESS
Jamaica has recorded 3,586 new company registrations for the period January 1 to November 11, 2020. That’s according to data produced by the Companies Office of Jamaica and released on social media by Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke who noted that “in the middle of the pandemic and record economic contraction, Jamaicans are forming new companies at a rate not…
Read More » -
T&T to revisit the energy fiscal regime: CARICOM BUSINESS
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has announced that the T&T government will revisit the energy sector tax regime to ensure the country remains competitive. This in the wake of a recent study by the IDB said T&T’s fiscal regime for the energy sector is one of the most uncompetitive in the region. The Central Bank’s Energy Commodity Prices Index (ECPI),…
Read More »