Business confidence at all-time low - Consumers also pessimistic about jobs, economy
Business confidence in Jamaica has plunged to an eight year low for the first quarter this year, dipping to the lowest level registered since the Jamaica Conference Board started its survey in 2001.With many Jamaicans expecting the current recession...
Debt to consume 56 per cent of Budget
The government expects to spend $309 billion, or approximately 56 per cent of overall expenditure, on debt repayment and interest charges this fiscal year, according to the Budget numbers released yesterday.The overall Budget, at $547.74 billion, is in...
Shipping decline clobbers customs target - But Walker still upbeat
The Kingston waterfront is now doubling as a drop-off point and storage facility for unused containers, left by shipping companies with far less cargo to trans-ship.But it is also a sympton of a decline in international commerce that, for the treasury...
Investor makes early bet on credit bureau
Lennox McLeod is pouring US$4 million into his company to establish it as a credit bureau, though Jamaican lawmakers are yet to debate legislation that would sanction the operation. McLeod has been building out Premier Credit Bureau Limited ...
CCRIF fund grows to US$130 million
The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) has been bolstered by a donation of €12.5 million (US$17 million) from the European Union. The agreement brings the total pool of funds held in trust by the World Bank as donor ...
Islands resent G-20 crackdown on tax havens - Global offshore business values US$7.3 trillion
More than 400,000 companies share a few local addresses in this tiny Caribbean financial centre of British Virgin Islands, where their incorporation papers are kept in a grey two-storey building. The vast majority have no employees on the island ...
Lawmakers demand criminal probe of CLICO Guyana
Guyana's main opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) has submitted a motion to Parliament, calling for an investigation into the operations of the Guyana branch of Trinidad-based Colonial Life Insurance Company ...
Bahamas port to host world's biggest ships
The Bahamas says a Dutch marine engineering company has won the contract to dredge two million cubic yards (1.53 million cubic metres) of sand and mud from a Nassau harbour to accommodate the world's largest ships.Robert Garraway is an engineer ...
Work begins on aluminium smelter
A company official says work has started on an aluminium smelter in southwestern Trinidad after a US$400-million loan was secured from China's Export and Import Bank.Josieann Richards is a spokeswoman for Trinidad-based Alutrint.
Trinidad invites Raul Castro to pre-Americas summit visit
Trinidad and Tobago's prime minister has invited Cuban President Raul Castro to visit his country ahead of a summit there that Cuba is not invited to. Patrick Manning urged Castro to visit ...
Urgently needed - project managers
The world is spending one-fifth of its GDP (US$12 trillion) on projects this year - and organisations ranging from global businesses to governments to NGOs - have identified this area and skilled project managers as the key...