Have your say » economy : A Jamaica Gleaner Blog

Jamaica and Elusive GDP growth

October 29th, 2019

The Editorial on September 12, 2019 – ‘Economic Growth Council and GDP trends’ highlights a disturbing paradox in our economy. How can we be spending so much on infrastructure but seeing any improvement in economic growth. Your question comes from the expectation, described in Keynesian economic theory, that government spending on infrastructure is the fastest [...]

Jamaica warned against becoming “The Greece of the Western Hemisphere”

January 9th, 2013

If the New Year did not begin badly enough for Jamaica with the lack of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal, then hearing that a leading United States newspaper has warned against the island becoming “The Greece of the Western Hemisphere”, would certainly do it. An article in the Chicago Tribune stated that Jamaica’s debt [...]

Haitian President says No More Food Aid

March 16th, 2010

Tragedy hit Haiti in the form of a magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake on Tuesday January 12, 2010. In the Aftermath, the Haitian Government reported that between 217,000 and 300,000 people were dead, approximately 300,000 injured, and an estimated 1,000,000 homeless. Additionally, numerous residences and commercial buildings were completely destroyed or severely damaged. In short, the [...]

Should Fray go to prison?

October 13th, 2009

Stephen Fray, the 22-year-old man convicted and charged with the attempted hijacking of a CanJet charter flight at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, on Sunday April 19, was sentenced by High Court Judge Sara Thompson-James to serve 20 years in prison. The sentence was significant in sending a clear message to potential hijackers [...]

Returning to the IMF, the only way for JA?

July 23rd, 2009

After weeks of speculation, Minister of Finance and the Public Service Audley Shaw, on Tuesday announced that Jamaica would be seeking to borrow funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for balance of payments support. Government as well as sections of the private sector and the labour movement said the country had no choice but [...]

Jamaica’s possible return to IMF, good or bad?

June 30th, 2009

Since the budget was read back in April, there has been continuous debate and discussion about Jamaica’s possible return to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Government continues to insist that it is just preparing itself should it need to turn to the body for money. The government also insists that certain requirements that existed at the IMF [...]

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