Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
08KINGSTON1001 |
FINANCIAL CRISIS ROCKS JAMAICA [...] (SBU) Jamaica's fragile economy has begun to feel the effects of the global financial meltdown, with the contagion effects already evident in the financial market. The local currency has depreciated by more than six percent since the beginning of October, due largely to margin calls from overse [...] |
2008-11-24 20:01:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG EINV ETRD IADB IBRD IMF TRSY JM XL |
08KINGSTON1016 |
JAMAICA: NOVEMBER ECONOMIC REVIEW [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: -- The Government of Jamaican (GOJ) announced a 29 percent drop in traditional export crops such as bananas, sugarcane and coffee in the third quarter. -- The GOJ has signed another agreement with Guyana to import 60,000 tons of rice in 2009. -- The GOJ has received fundi [...] |
2008-12-01 19:31:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EAIR EINV ECON ETRD KCOR KIPR IADB IBRD IMF |
08KINGSTON1028 |
JAMAICA: INFINITY ETHANOL DEAL TO CLOSE IN DECEMBER [...] (SBU) The Government of Jamaica's (GOJ) plan to sell the assets of the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ) parastatal to Brazilian-based Infinity Bio-Energy missed the original target of September 31, but should be completed by December 31. Infinity blames contract negotiations and the global credi [...] |
2008-12-08 13:49:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EINV ECON ETRD EAGR IADB IBRD IMF TRSY XL JM |
08KINGSTON1058 |
JAMAICA: FINANCE MINISTER ON MULTILATERALS, ECONOMIC [...] (SBU) Ambassador Johnson and econoffs met with Audley Shaw, Minister of Finance and the Public Sector and his Financial Secretary Sharon Crooks on December 12. Shaw highlighted the importance of re-engaging the multi-laterals adding that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) was the most r [...] |
2008-12-15 16:15:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ENRG EAIR EINV ECON ETRD KCOR KIPR IADB IBRD |
08KINGSTON1094 |
JAMAICA: DECEMBER ECONOMIC REVIEW - SEVERE HARDSHIP [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: -- Billionaire Jamaican born investor Michael Lee Chin says GOJ must get rid of Air Jamaica and create a new vision for economic growth. -- Jamaica Public Service company is seeing an increase in electricity pilfering, as thieves thwart its anti-theft measures. -- The Bank [...] |
2008-12-22 19:25:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EAIR EINV ECON ETRD KCOR KIPR IADB IBRD IMF |
08KINGSTON343 |
JAMAICA PURSUES "DEVELOPMENT WITH EQUITY" [...] (SBU) Jamaica's newly appointed Minister of Finance and Public Service Audley Shaw delivered his maiden budget presentation on April 10. The key speech, entitled "Development with Equity, with the People at the Center of Our Concern," was the first government budget address by a Jamaica Labor [...] |
2008-04-23 12:11:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EINV SENV ECON ETRD IBRD IADB JM XL |
08KINGSTON354 |
JAMAICA: PM GOLDING GAMBLES ON CASINOS AS PART [...] (SBU) Despite strong opposition from the powerful church lobby, Jamaica's Prime Minister Bruce Golding has announced his government's decision to issue two casino licenses. The conditional licenses will be issued to real estate projects by Celebration Jamaica (Palmyra Resort) and Tavistock Gro [...] |
2008-04-24 20:32:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EINV EIND SENV ECON ETRD IBRD IADB JM XL |
08KINGSTON457 |
JAMAICA RE-EMBRACES THE WORLD BANK [...] (SBU) After more than a decade of strained relations, the Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) led-government has followed through on its promise to renew the government's relationship with multilateral lending agencies. The World Bank's Country Representative in Jamaica, Badrul Haque, told emboffs, in [...] |
2008-05-21 20:44:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG PREL EINV IADB IFC ETRD JM XL |
08KINGSTON549 |
JAMAICA: AID FOR TRADE IN THE CARIBBEAN [...] (U) On June 16-17 the Organization of American States (OAS) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) held a symposium in Kingston entitled "Aid for Trade for the Caribbean: Making It A Reality." The event emphasized that trade is a powerful engine for economic [...] |
2008-06-17 18:34:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG EINV ECON ETRD EAID IADB IMF OAS TRSY XL JM |
08KINGSTON570 |
JAMAICA: JUNE ECONOMIC REVIEW [...] SUMMARY: -- Senator Don Wehby is being criticized by the Tourism and Hotel sector for its management of Air Jamaica in the face of reduced flights to the Caribbean by other airlines. The government also has asked the airline's board to resign; a new board will be named soon. -- Jamaica's [...] |
2008-06-25 14:48:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EAIR EINV ECON ETRD EIND IADB IBRD IMF TRSY |
08KINGSTON703 |
JAMAICA: JULY ECONOMIC REVIEW [...] SUMMARY: -- Air Jamaica losses USD 85 million in the first quarter and revamps its corporate board. -- Energy expert Dr. Raymond Wright is optimistic about Jamaica's potential for offshore natural gas. -- Wigton Windfarm plans to double in size by adding 18 megawatts of new wind turbine [...] |
2008-08-04 20:00:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EAIR EINV ECON ETRD EIND IADB IBRD IMF TRSY |
08KINGSTON704 |
JAMAICAN ECONOMY STAGNATES AMID SHOCKS, A REVIEW OF THE [...] (SBU) Growth in the Jamaican economy, suffering from a number of shocks, has slowed to less than one percent during the first half of 2008. The downturn was most evident in the goods producing sectors, which declined by 3.5 percent. Services grew by a moderate 1.7 percent fueled by robust tou [...] |
2008-08-04 20:15:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EAIR EINV ECON ETRD EIND SENV IADB IBRD IMF |
08KINGSTON770 |
JAMAICA: AUGUST ECONOMIC REVIEW AND STORM GUSTAV [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: -- Tropical Storm Gustav has damaged infrastructure on the island and caused at least 14 deaths (reftels A and B). Agriculture also sustained damage, mainly in the eastern parishes of Portland, St. Thomas and St Mary. It is too early to accurately estimate the total financia [...] |
2008-09-03 12:22:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EAIR AID EINV ECON ETRD IADB IBRD IMF TRSY XL |
08KINGSTON795 |
JAMAICA: RECOVERY ASSISTANCE FOR STORM GUSTAV [...] (SBU) Jamaicans are again picking up the pieces from the ninth major natural disaster in seven years. Two weeks after Tropical Storm Gustav hit, the country is still assessing damage, but agriculture and infrastructure suffered most. Embassy and USAID staff traveled on September 8 to the thre [...] |
2008-09-10 18:42:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EAIR AID EINV ECON ETRD IADB IBRD IMF TRSY XL JM |
08KINGSTON806 |
JAMAICA STORM GUSTAV UPDATE: RECOVERY ASSISTANCE: 2 [...] (SBU) Tropical Storm Gustav made landfall in Jamaica on August 28-29 with sustained winds of 73 miles per hour and dumped an estimated 250-375 mm of rainfall over 24 hours. The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) estimates damages of USD 31.5 million in agriculture; USD 166 million to infrastructure (r [...] |
2008-09-12 16:49:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID EAIR EAGR EINV ECON ETRD IADB IBRD IMF TRSY |
08KINGSTON867 |
JAMAICA: SEPTEMBER ECONOMIC REVIEW [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: -- The GOJ's USD 4.5 million deal with American Airlines to guarantee airlift to the island has faced criticism in the press; others see it as an important hedge against the failing national carrier Air Jamaica. -- Air Jamaica appears to have found a new CEO after the one s [...] |
2008-10-03 14:59:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EAIR EINV ECON ETRD IADB IBRD IMF TRSY XL JM |
08KINGSTON936 |
JAMAICA: OCTOBER ECONOMIC REVIEW [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: -- The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) signed the Open Skies Agreement with the United States on October 30. -- Ministry of Energy rolls out E-10 at gas stations and considers investment in a castor bean biodiesel project. -- Energy Ministry also announces plans to invest in c [...] |
2008-11-03 20:19:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EAIR EINV ECON ETRD IADB IBRD IMF TRSY XL JM |
09KINGSTON121 |
JAMAICA: OLINT'S BOSS ARRESTED IN TURKS AND CAICOS [...] (SBU) Summary: After months of investigations, David Smith, head of the alternative investment scheme OLINT, has been arrested by the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) police. Charged on eight different counts, he has been released on USD 1 million bail and is expected to return to court in Augu [...] |
2009-02-17 16:49:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON TRYS ENRG EFIN EINV ETRD EAIR IADB IBRD IMF |
09KINGSTON122 |
JAMAICA INKS DEAL WITH CHINA [...] (SBU) Summary: Jamaica continues to be a beneficiary of Chinese generosity, with the country receiving over USD 118 million in loans and grants. Under the agreements signed between Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Vice-President of China, Xi Jinping, who is on an official visit, Jamaica will r [...] |
2009-02-17 19:04:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PREL ENRG EFIN EINV ETRD EAID IADB IBRD IMF |
09KINGSTON123 |
JAMAICA: OLINT?S BOSS ARRESTED IN TURKS AND [...] (SBU) Summary: After months of investigations, David Smith, head of the alternative investment scheme OLINT, has been arrested by the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) police. Charged on eight different counts, he has been released on USD 1 million bail and is expected to return to court in Aug [...] |
2009-02-17 19:11:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON TRYS ENRG EFIN EINV ETRD EAIR IADB |
09KINGSTON157 |
JAMAICA: 2009 SPECIAL 301 REVIEW REPORT [...] (SBU) Embassy Kingston recommends that Jamaica remain on the Special 301 Watch list until it passes a World Trade Organization (WTO) TRIPS-compliant patent law. The country's trademark and copyright regime meet international standards, and enforcement efforts remain commendable. Significant p [...] |
2009-03-02 13:23:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD KCOR KIPR TRYS IADB IBRD IMF XL JM |
09KINGSTON223 |
JAMAICA: BUSINESS LEADERS DISCUSS WEAKENED STATE OF [...] (SBU) On March 18, Charge James Heg hosted a group of Jamaican business leaders at a lunch to discuss the state of the local economy. The discussions also covered the political dynamics following the decision by the Jamaican Supreme Court on the dual citizenship case. The business leaders wer [...] |
2009-03-23 20:06:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD TRYS ENRG SOCI EFIN EINV EAIR IADB IBRD |
09KINGSTON245 |
JAMAICA: TWIN DEFICITS AND A USD 1 BILLION [...] (C) Jamaica is facing a classic twin deficit problem, with both fiscal and balance of payments deficits rising quickly. The 2008-09 National budget will face a deficit of six percent of GDP, according to Finance Minister Audley Shaw. World Bank Country Representative Badrul Haque estimates that [...] |
2009-03-27 14:14:00 | Embassy Kingston | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG SOCI EFIN EINV ETRD IADB IBRD TRYS |
09KINGSTON306 |
FEW OPTIONS FOR CASH STRAPPED JAMAICA [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. As the Bruce Golding-led administration reaches the 18 month mark; the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) faces difficult decisions on the eve of its second budget presentation. Still suffering the effects of the global economic meltdown and frozen credit markets, the GOJ has been for [...] |
2009-04-22 20:22:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON TRYS ENRG EFIN EINV ETRD EAIR IADB IBRD IMF |
09KINGSTON405 |
JAMAICA IN ECONOMIC SURVIVAL MODE [...] (SBU) Jamaica's gargantuan debt, falling external earnings, and fiscal imbalance have placed it in a precarious position. Harsh global conditions have rendered the Government of Jamaica's (GOJ) medium-term macroeconomic framework useless, and have forced an increase in the stock of debt to aug [...] |
2009-05-22 11:46:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON TRYS ENRG EFIN EINV ETRD ECIN EAIR IADB IBRD |
09KINGSTON551 |
JAMAICA: IMF NEGOTIATIONS IGNITE DEBATE, [...] (SBU) SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS. A Government of Jamaican (GOJ) delegation led by Don Wehby, Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance, visited Washington the week of July 6 to intensify negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The GOJ's failure to reach most of its ec [...] |
2009-07-17 16:52:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG EFIN EINV ETRD PGOV PREL IADB |
09KINGSTON581 |
JAMAICA ON VERGE OF IMF STAND-BY AGREEMENT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: After months of negotiations, the Government of Jamaican (GOJ) is on the brink of signing a Stand-by Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This disclosure was confirmed by lead IMF representative, Trevor Alleyne, at a meeting with the donor community held at Post [...] |
2009-08-03 19:48:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG EFIN EINV ETRD PGOV PREL SOCI ASEC IADB |
09KINGSTON601 |
JAMAICA: RUMBLINGS OF KEY PERSONNEL CHANGES IN [...] (C) The Jamaican Labour Party (JLP)-led government is undergoing a second major reshuffle of portfolios for the year. Key Minister of Finance advisors Don Wehby and Dennis Chung have returned to the private sector. Chris Zacca, President of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), [...] |
2009-08-13 13:22:00 | Embassy Kingston | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRAD EFIN ENRG PINR PREL PGOV SOCI IADB |
09KINGSTON613 |
JAMAICA: MONETARY GAINS, FISCAL PAIN, AND [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: After a series of austere monetary measures, led by record high interest rates, the foreign exchange market has been showing signs of stability, reflected in the marginal depreciation of the Jamaican dollar during the June quarter. The stock of Net International Reserves (NIR) [...] |
2009-08-18 18:52:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG EFIN EINV ETRD PGOV PREL IADB |
09KINGSTON614 |
JAMAICA: MONETARY GAINS, FISCAL PAIN, AND DOWNGRADES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: After a series of austere monetary measures, led by record high interest rates, the foreign exchange market has been showing signs of stability, reflected in the marginal depreciation of the Jamaican dollar during the June quarter. The stock of Net International Reserves (NIR) a [...] |
2009-08-18 19:01:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG EFIN EINV ETRD PGOV PREL IADB IBRD IMF |
09KINGSTON626 |
JAMAICA ENERGY MINISTRY: PLANNING AND CHANGING, AGAIN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Marcia Forbes, the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Energy, resigned on August 20 after serving only four months. She became PS when Minister James Robertson took over the portfolio in April from then-Minister Clive Mullings (reftel A). The PS position has yet to be [...] |
2009-08-24 18:15:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EINV ENV ECON ETRD EIND EMIN PINR IADB IBRD |
09KINGSTON737 |
Jamaica: Private Sector Nervous Over Delay in IMF Deal; Risk [...] (C) Prime Minister (PM) Bruce Golding's lack of political courage in making difficult decisions has created a crisis of confidence in the private sector. His promise of an imminent International Monetary Fund (IMF) Standby Agreement worth USD 1.2 billion has set him, as well as his Jamaica L [...] |
2009-11-19 14:41:00 | Embassy Kingston | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN EINV ETRD SOCI PINR PREL IADB IMF TRSY JM |
09KINGSTON770 |
JAMAICA: OPERATION OF THE CARIBBEAN BASIN ECONOMIC RECOVERY [...] Jamaica is a signatory to the WTO Agreement and has generally demonstrated a commitment to undertaking its obligations. While the Golding administration, reeling under the effects of the global economic crisis, has championed the need for the country to replace particularly agricultural import [...] |
2009-09-30 14:12:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG EFIN EINV ETRD PGOV PREL IADB IBRD IMF TRGY |
09KINGSTON91 |
JAMAICA: JANUARY ECONOMIC REVIEW - HARDSHIP CONTINUES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: -- Jamaica's loss making national airline will begin an aggressive restructuring exercise next month in preparation for divestment later this year. -- The Jamaican Parliament has approved a four percent increase in the national budget to USD 6 billion. -- Finance Minister [...] |
2009-02-02 19:18:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON TRYS ENRG EFIN EINV ETRD EAIR IADB IBRD IMF |
09KINGSTON914 |
JAMAICA: CAUGHT IN A DEBT TRAP-- CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR [...] (SBU) The resignation of the Governor of the Central Bank, Derick Latibeaudiere, during the middle of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) negotiations may be a sign that the time has come for the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) to face the severity of the situation and negotiate a solution with pr [...] |
2009-11-03 12:27:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EINV PINR IADB IBRD IMF TRSY XL JM |
09KINGSTON97 |
JAMAICA: ENERGY SECTOR DEVELOPMENTS; [...] No summary [...] |
2009-02-06 13:53:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG ECON SENV EFIN EINV ETRD TRYS IADB IBRD PGOV |
09MANAGUA1318 |
NICARAGUA - FSLN SOCIAL PROGRAMS POLITICIZED AND FAILING [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: As the third year of President Ortega's five-year terms ends, many of his party's much-heralded social welfare programs to fight child labor, hunger and improve education are failing to live up to GON rhetoric. First Lady Rosario Murillo's auspicious Programa Amor ("Program of [...] |
2009-12-11 22:13:00 | Embassy Managua | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV SOCI PHUM EAID ELAB IADB VE NU |