How GCT impacts sectors of the economy - Part I
GENERAL CONSUMPTION Tax (GCT) is indeed the main feature of the Minister of Finance's tax package announced in his twelfth Budget presentation for the Fiscal year 2005/06 to Parliament...

Jamaica and the IMF
JAMAICA FINALLY ending its repayment arrangements with the International Monetary Fund, (better known as the IMF), was I think, one of the major news of the year.

Bankers' association speaks on interest rate spreads
COMMERCIAL BANKS act as financial intermediaries and provide services to all sectors of the economy. However, it is indeed a competitive environment in which fiscal and monetary policies coupled with market conditions dictate interest rates.

Red Stripe looks to spur profits
RED STRIPE announced a simple, two-pronged approach to spur top-line growth, and sustain profitability, secure home market and drive exports.

Applying corporate governance principles
A COMMON thread throughout the recently completed budget presentations has been the issues of corruption and accountability. Over the past year, the government and private sector have been promoting the idea of corporate governance.

FirstCaribbean exceeds loan mark
FIRSTCARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL Bank (FCIB) has created history by passing the US$4 billion loan mark in total lendings to its personal and business customers.

The role of bond markets in a modern economy
THE BOND market or the debt market as it is loosely called, represents those institutions and arrangements that deal with long-term debt instruments such as bonds, medium-term notes and subordinated debt.

Digicel Foundation buoys hurricane preparedness
THE NON-PROFIT organisation, Digicel Foundation has moved to bolster the hurricane preparedness capacity of the Fisheries Division by purchasing a 27ft. boat for the Division.

Securitisation as an alternative to funding
SECURITISATION IS essentially a financial engineering technique whereby a company issues a bond, which is collateralised by a particular asset or a pool of assets.