Jamaica in 'default'
The international ratings agencies followed through to place Jamaica in default on announcement of the $700 billion debt-exchange programme, JDX, that is recalling 350 domestic bonds.
Spanish Town bypassed by housing boom, Crime depresses demand, property values
While new housing developments are going up along the Highway 2000 corridor of St Catherine in response to what is being described as brisk demand for homes with a below-$10 million...
March start-up for Proven
Peter Bunting, chairman of Proven Management Limited, says the firm will officially launch into business on March 1.
JTB to invest more in social media
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) two years ago joined the throng of marketers tapping social networking sites as a way to drum up business when it revamped its website.Now, the agency is investing millions to develop a channel on YouTube, according to...
CHTA proposes US$10 air travel tax
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association is urging the region to consider imposing a US$10 tax on plane tickets to help in the recovery from the economic crisis.CHTA president, Enrique de Marchena, proposes that half the revenues go to help...
Oldest stockbrokerage lists on JSE
Barita Investments Limited made its debut on the Jamaica Stock Ex-change (JSE) Thursday, three decades after its founding by Rita Humphries-Lewin.The securities firm's 445,001,824 ordinary shares, which were listed at $2.50 per unit, will trade under...
A new retiree's confusion on income tax returns
QUESTION: I am not quite sure if you are able to handle this one, but I find your answers very informative and I trust your judgement.
Elderly account for few accidents, but deemed high-risk
Question: I have a restricted-driver's Road Angel Policy. My premium is low. I earn the maximum no-claims discount; I have driven accident-free for many years. Recently, I tried to change the policy to allow a friend to drive.
Advantage General targets strata market
Advantage General Insurance Company has rolled out a product targeted at strata corporations, entities which will soon be expected to adhere more vigorously to insurance requirements under the amended Strata Titles Act.
Horn of Jamaica's fiscal, developmental dilemma
Writing in The New York Times of January 10, 2010, columnist Frank Rich quoted Paul Volcker, whom he described as "the regrettably powerless chairman of Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board", as saying recently: "There was not 'one shred of neutral...
French-Caribbean reject more autonomy, Brits demand respect
On January 10, two of France's Caribbean département d'outremer (DOM), Martinique and Guyane, rejected the possibility of greater autonomy.
From inside the markets
The Government of Jamaica has extended an offer to the major holders of its local debt to participate in a "voluntarily exchange" of these securities for new notes with lower coupons and longer maturities.The new instruments will have lower initial...
Caribbean, Latin America lose 2.2m jobs
Latin America and the Caribbean lost 2.2 million jobs in 2009 amid the global financial crisis, reversing five straight years of falling unemployment, the International Labor Organization (ILO) said Monday.The United Nations agency said in its annual...