Search Result for: fiscal year

265 results found.

How St Lucia Is Providing a Boost for Its Creative Community

Above: St Lucia (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff More and more Caribbean governments are starting to acknowledge the importance of the creative class to national development. Now, the government of St Lucia is launching a new initiative to […]

Jamaica: “Significant Improvement” in Business, Consumer Confidence

Above: Kingston (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica is seeing a “significant improvement” in both business and consumer confidence, according to the International Monetary Fund, which recently visited the island. According to Jan Kees Martijn, who let the […]

Jamaica’s Big Hopes for Bananas

Above: a banana plant (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica has big hopes for the island’s banana industry. Jamaica Agriculture Minister Derrick Kellier said this week that “major developments” would be taking place shortly in the industry, with […]

Puerto Rico is “Ready” for Mega-Ships

Above: The Bay of San Juan (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Puerto Rico is “ready” to receive the new wave of “mega” cruise ships, according to Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla. Old San Juan’s port recently completed a project […]

How Much Can Jamaica Grow?

By Dennis Chung CJ Contributor THE PLANNING Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is targeting real GDP growth of three percent in the fiscal year 2015/16. This is against the previously targeted 1.5 to two percent, under the current IMF agreement. I have […]

Jamaica: Economy Grew Between 1 and 2 Percent in Second Quarter

Above: (left) Bank of Jamaica Governor Brian Wynter (JIS Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Real economic activity in Jamaica grew expanded by between 1 and 2 percent in the second quarter, according to a new report from the Bank […]

Dominica to Begin Rehabilitation Projects in Roseau, Portsmouth

Above: Roseau, Dominica (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Rehabilitation and enhancement projects of the city of Roseau and the town of Portsmouth, Dominica will begin in the 2014/2015 fiscal year, according to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit. The projects […]

Moody’s Downgrades Barbados Rating, Outlook Remains Negative

Above: Bridgetown (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff New York-based ratings firm Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded Barbados’ government bond rating to B3 from Ba3. The three-notch downgrade reflected several factors, Moody’s said, including the increasing size of the […]

IMF: Haiti on Track For 3 to 4 Percent GDP Growth in 2014

Above: Port-au-Prince (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Preliminary data suggests that economic activity in Haiti has advanced in line with projections, the International Monetary Fund said this week following its staff visit to the country. Data from the […]

Bahamas Planning to Introduce 7.5 Percent Value Added Tax in 2015

Above: Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie By the Caribbean Journal staff The Bahamas is planning to introduce a new 7.5 percent value added tax, the government announced this week. The tax will be a single VAT rate across the board, […]

Jamaica’s Economic Outlook “Improving”

Above: Kingston (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica’s economic outlook is “improving,” according to the International Monetary Fund, which recently completed a staff mission to the Caribbean country. The visit from May 5 to May 16 by an […]

In Jamaica, Fighting Crime With an App

Above: Kingston (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff As Jamaica continues to work to tackle its severe crime problem, the country’s government is looking to a new tool: mobile phones. In the next few months, the government will be […]

Dennis Chung: The Missing Piece to Jamaica’s Development

By Dennis Chung CJ Contributor AS Jamaica starts the 2014/15 fiscal year with the reports that we have successfully passed all four IMF tests so far, and with a feeling of greater confidence and hope for economic and fiscal improvements, […]

IMF: Haiti GDP Grew By 4 Percent in 2013

Above: Port-au-Prince By the Caribbean Journal staff Haiti’s gross domestic product grew by around 4 percent in the 2013 fiscal year, according to preliminary data from the International Monetary Fund. That number was better than had recently been projected. In […]

S&P Affirms Credit Rating on Bahamas; Outlook Remains “Negative”

Above: Nassau (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Standard & Poor’s affirmed its “BBB/A-2” sovereign credit rating on the Bahamas on Tuesday, the New York-based firm announced. The outlook on the Bahamas’ long-term credit rating remains negative, however The […]

S&P Affirms Rating on Puerto Rico; Outlook Remains Negative

Above: San Juan (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Standard & Poor’s has affirmed its “BBB-” rating on the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s general obligation and appropriation debt, the New York-based ratings firm announced on Wednesday. The rating reflected […]

IMF Approves Disbursement of $30.6 Million to Jamaica

Above: Kingston (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The International Monetary Fund’s Executive Board has approved a $30.6 million disbursement to Jamaica. The move follows the completion of its first review of the country’s performance under an economic programme […]

IFC Names Director For Latin America and the Caribbean

Above: IFC headquarters in Washington By the Caribbean Journal staff The IFC has named Irene Arias its new Director for the Latin America and Caribbean region. Arias, who will be based in Bogota, will oversee the IFC’s Investment and Advisory […]

How Government Aviation Taxes Negatively Impact Caribbean Tourism

The following is the text of a speech given by St Kitts and Nevis Tourism & International Transport Minister Richard Skerritt to the ICAO Plenary Session in Montreal on Wednesday. Mr President, Mr Secretary General, fellow delegates, distinguished ladies and […]

A Boost For Venture Capital in Jamaica

Above: Kingston (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The Development Bank of Jamaica will be launching a new venture capital fund in 2014, according to Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips. The fund is set to launch within the first […]

Canada to Contribute $6.6 Million to Haiti

Above: Christian Paradis By the Caribbean Journal staff Canada will be making a $6.6 million contribution to Haiti to continue its support under the World Food Programme’s Support to Sustainable School Feeding programme in Haiti. The project provides a daily […]

Is Growth Ahead for Jamaica?

Above: Kingston (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica’s economy is projected to grow by between 0.5 and 1.5 percent for the third quarter of 2013, according to data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica. The report comes after […]

Jamaica Off to Strong Start on IMF Reforms, But Economy Remains Sluggish

Above: Kingston By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica is off to a strong start under its new programme with the International Monetary Fund, but the country’s economy remains less than productive. The IMF concluded a staff mission to Jamaica last […]

Standard & Poor’s Lowers Barbados Outlook to Negative

Above: Bridgetown (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Standard & Poor’s has lowered the outlook on its long-term rating on Barbados to negative, the New York-based ratings firm announced. S&P also announced that it had affirmed the country’s “BB+” […]

Interview with Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Minister Stephen Cadiz

Above: Port of Spain (CJ Photo) By Alexander Britell NEW YORK — Long the commodities hub of the Caribbean, Trinidad is now making a play to enter the region’s bread-and-butter market, tourism, in a big way. It’s a relatively new […]

Montserrat to Receive $26M in UK Aid

Above: Montserrat By the Caribbean Journal staff Montserrat will be receiving $26.04 million USD in budget aid from the United Kingdom’s Department For International Development. The government announced the funding following what it called “detailed discussions and negotiations” with Montserrat […]

Jamaica’s Economy Contracted in First Quarter of 2013: Report

Above: Kingston (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica’s economy contracted by between 0.2 and 1.2 percent in the first quarter of 2013, according to estimates from the Bank of Jamaica. For the 2012/2013 fiscal year, the economy is […]

Simpson Miller: Jamaica to Restart “Inner City Renewal” Initiative

Above: Kingston (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica’s government will be restarting a programme from the former Jamaica Labour Party administration aimed at upgrading downtown Kingston. The project will restart in the 2014/2015 fiscal year, featuring a housing […]

At Nassau’s Baha Mar Resort, The Art of Everything