JAMAICA: UPDATE AND ADDITIONAL REPORTING ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KINGSTON 000045 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR (ACADIEUX)(VDEPIRRO)(WSMITH) WHA/EPSC (MROONEY) EEB/IFD/OMA EEB/EPPD SANTO DOMINGO FOR FCS AND FAS TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON TRYS ENRG EFIN EINV ETRD EAIR SOCI IBRD IMF CDB, IBD, CH, SP, XL, JM SUBJECT: JAMAICA: UPDATE AND ADDITIONAL REPORTING ON RESPONSE TO FINANCIAL CRISIS REF: A) 08 STATE 134459 B) 08 KINGSTON 1058 (151615Z DEC 08) C) 08 KINGSTON 1094 (221925z DEC 08) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The global financial crisis has begun to impact Jamaica, with economic growth for July to September 2008 falling by 0.2 percent -- the second consecutive quarter of decline. Continued stagnation in the real sectors was again responsible for the downturn. The economy is bound to fall deeper into recession following the shock emanating from the recent hike in interest rates to protect the value of the local currency. This reality has spurred the government into action; both Finance Minister Audley Shaw and Prime Minister Bruce Golding have been forced to address the nation, with the latter outlining a sleuth of measures intended to offset the downturn. But these policy actions have not been sufficient to calm the markets or slow down the plans by companies to cut staff as demand slows and credit dries up. However, the early decision of the Golding-led administration to re-engage the multilaterals could well turn out to be Jamaica's silver lining. End summary. Economic Stagnation Intensifies -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Jamaica's economy declined by a further 0.3 percent in the September quarter of 2008, the second consecutive quarter of contraction. The stagnation in the real sector (down 2.2 percent) was the underlying reason for the economic downturn, with the 9.1 percent drop in the construction sector influencing the fallout. The slowdown in road construction and housing starts and completions were the primary reasons for the downturn. This development is expected to deliver a serious blow to the buoyant real estate market. The apparent meltdown in the construction industry is also disconcerting given that it had been growing by double digits until the end of 2007 and had employed up to 118,000 persons, many of them unskilled. Agriculture, down 1.0 percent, also contributed to the decline recorded in the real economy. Growth in services, up 0.5 percent, remained anemic as the previously buoyant tourism and retail sectors went into decline. Dollar under Sustained Pressure -------------- ¶3. (SBU) While most countries around the world have been reducing interest rates, Jamaica has been forced to increase rates five times in a bid to stabilize the local currency, which has slipped by over 13 percent since September 2008. In December, the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) hiked indicative interest rates on its one-year instrument by seven percentage points to 24 percent. This pre-emptive move was aimed at absorbing maturing instruments to reduce liquidity and by extension calm demand pressures in the foreign exchange market. The BOJ also enacted a second increase in the cash reserve requirement, from nine percent to 11 percent. But these measures are bound to impact the fiscal accounts, investment decisions, and economic growth. They also have impacted consumer credit, as financial houses have already increased rates by up to four percentage points to 30 percent. The Private Sector Organization of Jamaica has questioned the bank's wisdom, saying the aggressive measures would likely put more pressure on an already weak economy at a time when the global crisis is placing severe pressure on Jamaica. However, the BOJ faces a real dilemma, as the currency continues to lose value against its US counterpart amidst a USD 400 million injection in the market from the Net International Reserves (NIR),which now stand at USD 1.8 billion. Leading Foreign Exchange Sectors under Siege -------------- ¶4. (SBU) With over 70 percent of visitors to Jamaica originating from the US, the tourism sector appears to be most vulnerable to the global financial crisis. However, the performance for 2008 was four percent better than in 2007. Predictions are that arrivals could decline by up to 20 percent in 2009 unless the fast growing Canadian market offsets the anticipated decline from the U.S. The bauxite/alumina sector is also being affected by the fallout in the automobile and housing industries in the U.S. The price of aluminum KINGSTON 00000045 002 OF 004 has decreased by over 50 percent during the last six months, leading to inventory reaching its highest level in the last 14 years. Remittances from the U.S. also fell by double digits in November, the first monthly decline registered in recent times, suggesting that even this most resilient flow could be affected by the deepening recession in the U.S.; however, remittances to Jamaica are expected to remain relatively robust given the historically steady nature of the flow. Projects Postponed -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The global financial crisis also has begun to take its toll on investment decisions in Jamaica. Already, one major Spanish investor has postponed a major hotel development due to difficulties associated with sourcing funding on the international capital market. The Port Authority of Jamaica also was forced to postpone its USD 122 million port expansion project slated to start in 2009, as it cannot find financing. The divestment of the local sugar industry to Infiniti Bio-energy of Brazil also has hit a snag because of uncertainty surrounding the companies' ability to raise the USD 125 million required to seal the deal. However, Ministry of Finance officials tell emboffs that a similar fate should not beset Air Jamaica, as the company already has short listed two prospective buyers with deep pockets, while two other similar entities are showing interest. Shaw Forced to Address Crisis -------------- ¶6. (SBU) After months of suggesting that the global financial turmoil would not affect the local economy, Minister of Finance and the Public Sector (MOF) Audley Shaw was forced to backtrack in an address to the nation in November. Shaw stated that, as with most developing countries, credit to Jamaica had dried up as investors had become increasingly risk averse. He said the local foreign exchange market also had experienced pressures arising from the temporary constraint on international credit markets and the consequent price declines in financial assets internationally. However, Shaw has remained optimistic, particularly because an assessment of local financial institutions showed that the level of exposure was manageable, and in the event of contagion, the central bank was in a position to provide liquidity support. He also noted that the GOJ had established a Monitoring Unit comprising technocrats from the MOF, the BOJ, the Financial Services Commission, and the Planning Institute of Jamaica to analyze developments in the global markets with a view to determining the impact on Jamaica. Policy Responses -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Shaw told emboffs that long before the crisis, the Golding-led administration had indicated its intention to re-engage and significantly expand its relationship with the multilateral lending agencies. This early intention has paid huge dividends, as Shaw expects these agencies to provide over USD 1 billion by the end of March. He said these projected inflows will help cushion any fall-out faced by the island from the global credit crisis. The sum includes USD 200 million from the IDB for on-lending to the private sector; USD 300 million already secured from the IDB; two loans for USD 401 million being negotiated with the IDB; USD 100 million being negotiated with the World Bank; and, USD 50 million for which negotiations are being finalized with the CDB. These are mostly policy-based loans (PBL),in exchange for which the government will have to undertake agreed policy changes primarily geared at lowering the country's gargantuan debt burden. For the next fiscal year the GOJ also expects to secure a further combined USD 650 million in PBL from the World Bank, the IDB and the CDB. ¶8. (SBU) Despite the crisis, the GOJ also has intensified its reform program aimed at achieving fiscal sustainability and debt reduction. The program entails, among other things, fiscal sustainability through greater control of public sector balances and debt; increasing the efficiency of government's financial management and budget process; improvement in tax policy and administration geared toward a more simplified, equitable and efficient tax system; and, improvement in public sector productivity, efficiency and responsiveness. The GOJ also has been engaged in intense discussions with bauxite/alumina companies and unions to avoid the closure of KINGSTON 00000045 003 OF 004 any plants, which would result in layoffs. The GOJ is still in discussions with US Rusal regarding its three plants in Jamaica, while the other two companies are not critical at this moment. The government also has offered concessions to these companies, but has warned that they might not be able to avoid a cutback in production. Regarding tourism, the Jamaica Tourist Board has ramped up its advertising and marketing program in the US. To address the labor market challenges, the GOJ announced the revival of social partnership discussions among the government, the private sector, trade unions, and the opposition. The GOJ also is planning to appoint a group of union leaders and employers to track the effects of the global financial crisis in a bid to report to the GOJ on ways to prevent layoffs. Golding Announces Stimulus Package -------------- ¶9. (SBU) With the effects of the global crisis intensifying, Prime Minister Bruce Golding also has been forced to yield to those who had been calling for a more targeted fiscal stimulus package. In an address to the nation in December, Golding in outlined a sleuth of measures intended to boost the economy in general and some critical sectors in particular. As such, the tourism sector had its sales tax (already half that paid by the remainder of the economy) reduced by half to 4.125 %. Sector players facing cash flow problems also were offered a USD 6 million loan facility for working capital. The moribund manufacturing sector also came in for special treatment, as Golding announced that government procurement policy would be adjusted to provide a 10 percent cost margin to Jamaican owned companies. Small businesses were also allocated over USD 4 million in soft loans, while the procurement procedures were adjusted to allow 15 percent of total procurement to be reserved for small and micro suppliers. And despite the revenue crunch, the GOJ abolished the tax on dividends paid by private locally owned companies, while reducing the transfer tax on property transactions from 6.5 percent to five percent. To help with job losses, Golding also proposed a special program to retrain workers who were laid off. Projects to Provide Boost -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Golding was also quick to point out that a number of projects were in the pipeline, which could boost job creation and economic growth. Chief among these is the construction of a cruise ship pier in the historic town of Falmouth on the North Coast to accommodate the next generation of cruise ships. The project, which is being carried out in conjunction with Caribbean Cruise Lines, will cost over USD 224 million. The long awaited construction of a Convention Centre in the tourist resort of Montego-Bay will also begin this quarter. The project is being financed by the Chinese government to the tune of USD 52 million. A group of Chinese investors are also far advanced in their plans to construct a new alumina plant in St. Ann. And while some hotel developers have had to postpone their investments, one major Spanish hotel has commenced construction, while two others are about to start work. Golding also alluded to the ongoing and planned construction of major highways and the development of almost 500 acres of land for an enterprise zone. But Recession Bug Hits Companies -------------- ¶11. (SBU) But despite Golding's optimism, there have been a number of announced job cuts. In December Sandals Resorts International announced it was reducing staff complement by 285 employees. However, most were re-employed and transferred to join another 300 Jamaican workers in the Turks and Caicos. Russian-owned (RUSAL) Alumina Partners of Jamaica also has laid off 250 temporary workers and suggested a delay of a 12 percent pay increase, but the latter was rejected by unions. While news reports suggest that Air Jamaica is planning to shed positions, it is unrelated to the global recession, as new Air Jamaica President Bruce Nobles already had told emboffs that the airline was planning to cut loss making routes in its bid to restructure the airline for divestment. However, the telecoms firm, Digicel, apparently smarting from the drying up of the credit it depends on to fund its aggressive expansion program, has announced its intention to offer an attractive voluntary redundancy package to 10 percent of its workforce. Comment KINGSTON 00000045 004 OF 004 -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Like most developing countries, Jamaica has not escaped the contagion effects of the global financial meltdown. Nowhere has the impact been more severe than in the country's foreign exchange market, with the local currency continuing on its downward spiral. And with the central bank and the government aware of the deleterious effect on the socio-economic landscape, the central bank has been forced to implement draconian measures. But these corrective measures come with their own set of problems, especially for the fiscal accounts, which could deteriorate for the remainder of the fiscal year. The extent of this fiscal slippage could well set the stage for a downgrade by the international ratings agencies later this year. However, this might not be devastating, as the government has already been shut out of the private capital market. In this regard, the Golding-led administration must be commended for its decision to re-engage the multilaterals before the crisis unfolded. End comment. HEG