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S&P Raises Jamaica Credit Rating

Above: Kingston By the Caribbean Journal staff Standard & Poor’s has raised its long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Jamaica, citing “progress in stabilizing the economy” and the country’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund. The rating, […]

The Caribbean’s Incarceration Problem

By Michael W Edghill CJ Contributor Every now and again, a report or statistic comes along that presents something genuinely surprising. A few weeks ago, that statistic came by way of a graphic shared through social media. The graphic showed the […]

The Caribbean’s Greatest Challenge

By Zhivargo Laing CJ Contributor WE FACE many challenges in the Caribbean, but we need to pay special attention to the region’s most serious challenge – employment. Many thousands of our people are unemployed. Thousands more are under-employed. And many […]

A Marshall Plan for the Caribbean?

Above: Antigua Prime Minister Dr Baldwin Spencer (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Would a Marshall Plan-like programme help the Caribbean deal with its economic challenges? That’s the proposal of Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Dr Baldwin Spencer, who […]

Op-Ed: The Caribbean’s “Depth” Crisis

By Zhivargo S. Laing Op-Ed Contributor WHILE GOVERNMENT DEBT remains worrisome for many Caribbean and Latin American countries, socio-economic depth may be the more serious worry for sustainable growth and development in the future. Socio-economic depth here refers to the […]

IMF Approves $932 Million Jamaica Deal

Above: Kingston (CJ Photo) By Alexander Britell The International Monetary Fund’s Executive Board has approved a $932.3 million Extended Fund Facility arrangement for Jamaica, it announced Wednesday. The four-year EFF represents the equivalent of 225 percent of Jamaica’s quota in […]

Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” and Jamaica

By Marcia Forbes CJ Contributor Trinidadian & Jamaican, Working Together TWO DYNAMIC WOMEN, Racquel Goddard from Trinidad and Kellie Magnus from Jamaica, got together to pull off an event hosted in Jamaica on World Book Night, celebrated April 23. Facebook […]

Dennis Chung: The Role of Government in Caribbean Economies

By Dennis Chung CJ Contributor MY MOTHER USED TO SAY of children, it is sometimes better to be seen and not heard. These were of course in the days when parents ruled children, and not as it is today. So […]

Op-Ed: Jamaica’s Lotto Scam Problem

By David Rowe Op-Ed Contributor A NATIONAL SECURITY PROBLEM in Jamaica has become a public relations problem in the United States. The so-called “lotto scam” is a multinational fraud scheme directed at elderly US citizens by organized criminals in Jamaica. […]

Tobago Tourism Increased By 4.3 Percent in 2012: Report

Above: the beach at the Magdalena Grand resort in Tobago By the Caribbean Journal staff Almost 963,000 visitors came to Tobago in 2012, an increase of 4.3 percent, according to data from the Caribbean Tourism Organization. The numbers were announced […]

Standard & Poor’s Raises Jamaica Credit Rating After Debt Exchange

Above: Kingston (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Following a similar move by Fitch last week, Standard & Poor’s has raised Jamaica’s foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings to “CCC+” and out of default. The move came after […]

UK Decides Not to Implement VAT in Turks and Caicos Islands

Above: Minister Mark Simmonds By the Caribbean Journal staff Following widespread opposition in the Turks and Caicos, the United Kingdom has agreed not to implement a value-added tax in the territory. The decision, announced in a letter by Mark Simmonds, […]

Standard & Poor’s, Fitch Downgrade Jamaica Credit Rating

Above: Kingston (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Standard & Poor’s and Fitch have each downgraded Jamaica’s sovereign credit rating following the country’s announcement of a debt exchange offer on Monday night. The moves came after Jamaica announced a […]

IMF: Jamaica Must Address Structural Impediments to Growth

Above: Kingston (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica must address “with urgency” the structural impediments to the country’s growth, including its excessive debt burden, the International Monetary Fund said following its visit to the country. The statement by […]

Jamaica “Finalizing” IMF Agreement, Plans Debt Exchange Offer

Above: Kingston (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica is now “finalizing” a new agreement with the International Monetary Fund, along with a debt exchange offer to be made Tuesday, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said in a national […]

Jamaica Signs Off on IMF Measures; Talks Heading Toward “Final Round”

Above: Minister Peter Phillips (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica’s Cabinet has signed off on a series of measures required to advance the country’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips said at a […]

Durandis: Haiti’s Uphill Battle

By Ilio Durandis CJ Contributor THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR usually brings with it new hope. A country like Haiti, that has been trying very hard to change its image in the international media, simply cannot seem to get […]

Op-Ed: The IMF, Chavez, and Jamaica’s Economic Future

By David Rowe Op-Ed Contributor FOR THE LAST 12 MONTHS, Jamaica has been in intermittent negotiations with the IMF. These negotiations have not yet yielded a new agreement. It is now acknowledged internationally that Jamaica is in an economic crisis. […]

PM: Belize Set to Finalize Superbond Deal

Above: Parliament in Belmopan By the Caribbean Journal staff Belize will officially sign an agreement on the restructuring of its large commercial debt in the early part of this month, Prime Minister Dean Barrow said in his first national address […]

Bahamas, Dominican Republic Hold Second Round of Bilateral Talks in Nassau

Above: Bahamas Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell (centre) (BIS Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Following a meeting in the Dominican Republic at the end of October, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas are holding a second round of bilateral talks […]

IMF: Antigua and Barbuda’s Economy Expected to Recover “Gradually”

Above: downtown St John’s (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Antigua and Barbuda’s economy is expected to recover “gradually” this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, which recently completed its seventh review of the country’s economic performance under […]

St Lucia to Debate 8 Percent Value Added Tax on Hotel Sector

By the Caribbean Journal staff St Lucia’s House of Assembly is meeting this week to debate several major motions, including a proposal from the Minister of Finance to set a Value Added Tax rate of 8 percent on the country’s […]

Op-Ed: Belize’s Debt Payment

By Kay Menzies Op-Ed Contributor Certain realities are very much present in our daily economic life in Belize. For example, the population is, at this point, fully aware that we have a huge debt burden relative to our country’s size. […]

Op-Ed: What Role Did the Environment Play in Haiti’s Cholera Epidemic?

By Renaud Piarroux Op-Ed Contributor On Oct. 21, 2010, a cholera epidemic began in Haiti, an area which had never been struck by this terrible disease. Two years later, more than 600,000 new cases have been recorded and more than […]

S&P Maintains Negative Outlook on Jamaica, Citing Debt, Low Growth

Above: Kingston By the Caribbean Journal staff Standard & Poor’s has maintained its negative outlook for Jamaica, while affirming its “B-/B” long and short-term sovereign credit ratings on the country, the ratings firm announced. “Our ratings on Jamaica reflect its […]

S&P Lowers Grenada Foreign Currency Ratings After Missed Bond Payment

Above: Grenada (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Standard & Poor’s has lowered its foreign currency sovereign credit ratings on Grenada following a missed bond payment, the ratings firm announced Monday. S&P has lowered its foreign currency sovereign credit […]

US Virgin Islands Governor Urges Congress on Budget Deal

Above: US Virgin Islands Governor John de Jongh (Photo: OG) By the Caribbean Journal staff US Virgin Islands Governor John de Jongh, along with 11 Democratic governors, has signed a letter urging congressional leaders to reach a budget deal with […]

S&P: Lack of IMF Agreement “Detracting” from Jamaica’s Creditworthiness

Above: Kingston By the Caribbean Journal staff Standard & Poor’s this week raised the short-term sovereign credit rating on Jamaica to “B” from “C.” The ratings firm also affirmed its “B-” long-term foreign and local currency ratings, along with holding […]

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