NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST SAYS IT DOES NOT LEND LESS TO DEVELOPERS—04/05/15
Jamaica’s National Housing Trust (NHT) has stated that is lending more to developers, contrary to the perception of contractors. According to the NHT, it does not use a quota on loans to developers, and as long as a developer can meet the requirements for a loan and the budget can accommodate the loan, that developer will receive help from the agency.

JAMAICA HAS MOST AUSTERE BUDGET IN THE WORLD—04/08/15
Jamaica’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has resulted in the country having the most austere budget in the world. Research from the Center for Economic and Policy Research indicates that indicates that Jamaica has a primary surplus of 7.5 per cent, due to the four-year International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement.

JAMAICAN FARMERS PRAISED BY DERRICK KELLIER—04/09/15
Derrick Kellier, Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture, has praised the more than 200,000 farmers in Jamaica for the “sustained” contribution they make to the growth of the national economy. According to Kellier, the agricultural sector has a major role in employing the Jamaican workforce, as well as in reducing the national food bill.

GOVERNMENT INVITES DIASPORA INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION—04/10/15
Ronald Thwaites, Jamaica’s Minister of Education, is encouraging Jamaicans in and out of the Diaspora to form a partnership with the Government in providing support to the national education design. Thwaites is reaching out and speaking to over 130 alumni associations linked to Jamaican schools in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and in the Caribbean region to foster additional investment in Jamaica.