
Minister of Finance and the Public Service
The Restructuring of Public Sector Compensation
Kingston, Jamaica: Friday, May 20, 2022
The Government of Jamaica (GOJ), through the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service hosted a visibility ceremony at the Ministry on Friday, May 20, 2022 for the Financing Agreement between the GOJ and the European Union (EU) to address Environmental and Climate Change challenges through the improved Forest Management in Jamaica Programme.
Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Nigel Clarke, DPhil., M.P. in his opening remarks, used the opportunity to recognise what he called “an incredible partnership” between the GOJ and the European Union.
“Today we are highlighting one of the more recent grants and it is the grant of Sixteen Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand EURO (€16,695,000.00) from the EU to the Government of Jamaica, a grant that is focused on Climate Change issues and Forestry Management issues. This grant has been critical in advancing policies and programmes in very important areas of Jamaica’s environmental development,” Minister Clarke said.
He further noted, “It is also important for us to recognise that, that contribution has yielded tangible, demonstrable, measurable success, and that goes to show that Jamaica is a partner on which the European Union can depend. When you support us with grant resources, we implement the policies that we commit to implement.”
Minister without Portfolio at the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda in his remarks commended the European Union for being an outstanding partner to Jamaica particularly in “environmental preservation and conservation and building our resilience to climate change.”
Senator Samuda also added, “During the past financial year, 26 of the 46 projects approved were completed with the remaining 20 on track for completion by June 2022. Among the targets under the programme is Indicator 6, which is the completion of the work to declare the Cockpit Country a protected area (CCPA).”
Chargé d’ Affaires at the European Union Delegation to Jamaica, Aniceto Rodriguez Ruíz who was representing Ambassador Marianne Van Steen at the event said, “It is important to note that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has succeeded in achieving the relevant targets under the budget support modality. The eligibility criteria for the budget support fixed tranche are tied to satisfactory progress in the implementation of the forest sector policy, macroeconomic stability, public financial management and budget transparency.”
The EU remains the largest provider of grant assistance to Jamaica and is an important partner in achieving the government’s development objectives. The Government of Jamaica welcomes the support of the EU to assist the GOJ in implementing the Forest Policy for Jamaica 2017 as well as supporting the 2016-2026 National Forestry Management Conservation Plan (NFMCP) to sustainably manage and utilise Jamaica’s forest resources to enhance social and economic development and contribute to building the country’s climate resilience.
For more information contact:
Corporate Communication & Public Relations Branch
Ministry of Finance and the Public Service
30 National Heroes Circle
Kingston 4
Tel: (876) 932-4656/4660/4655
The Hon. Nigel Clarke, D.Phil., MP
Minister of Finance and the Public Service
30 National Heroes Circle, Kingston 4
Tel: (876) 932-4656 / 4660 / 4655
Eml: opedjamaica@gmail.com
Officers of the Revenue Protection Department (RPD), with assistance from the MajorOrganised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), last week, arrested and charged Rhemalee Wint-Lewis, Tax Auditor of the Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) for breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act.
Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke has announced that it is no longer necessary for the Government of Jamaica to provide support for the salaries of SSL staff members; an insurance claim made by the Temporary Manager of SSL in April of this year, to SSL’s insurers in England, has now been settled. SSL received the insurance payout of US$1 million on Thursday, September 7th, enabling SSL to settle the remainder of their August staff salary bill last week Monday, September 11.
Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings, today, September 13, 2023, upgraded the Government of Jamaica’s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) from ‘B+’ to ‘BB-’ with a stable
outlook.
The Financial Investigations Division (“FID”), is using the proceeds of assets confiscated under Jamaica’s proceeds of crime legislation to fund the extraordinary expenses it incurs in the SSL fraud investigation. These funds do not constitute tax revenue. These funds arise from the FID’s work in identifying, restraining, forfeiting and monetising the proceeds of crime. That is, these funds arise from the confiscation of ill-gotten gains.
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