March 16, 2026
Weight Of War
Fiscal Commissioner Courtney Williams has sounded a warning that the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are posing a material risk to the Jamaican economy, and that a prolonged conflict could lead to worsened terms of trade and amplified price pass-through effects, along with higher production costs, as well as dampened economic activity and confidence.
March 13, 2026
Guarding the seed corn
he Independent Fiscal Commission’s latest assessment of Jamaica’s fiscal position offers both reassurance and warning.
Source: Jamaica Observer
March 12, 2026
Editorial | IFC and noisy MPs
Apart from their partisan desk-thumping, an unfortunate feature of Jamaica’s legislators is how little attention they pay to, and therefore know about, the bills upon which they vote. They generally leave it to the executive, the Cabinet, to decide and then corral the votes.
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
March 11, 2026
Williams responds to concerns raised by fiscal commissioner
Finance Minister Fayval Williams on Tuesday responded to concerns raised by the Independent Fiscal Commission about the state of the economy.
Source: Jamaica Observer
March 11, 2026
Another wage warning
Jamaica risks “eating its seed corn” by prioritising public sector wages over the investment needed to sustain long-term growth, Fiscal Commissioner Courtney Williams has warned as rising compensation costs place increasing pressure on the national budget.
Source: Jamaica Observer
March 11, 2026
We need a growth strategy that drives tax revenue
On October 22, 2024 Jamaica launched its fiscal research centre as a partnership with the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy (IFSD), which I covered in the Jamaica Observer article ‘Jamaica’s fiscal research centre is a big deal’, published on October 3, 2024
Source: Jamaica Observer
March 10, 2026
Uproar over publication of EFAR before tabling in Parliament
Fiscal Commissioner Courtney Williams has sought to defend the publishing of an economic and fiscal assessment report (EFAR) on the Independent Fiscal Commission’s (IFC) website before the document was tabled in Parliament.
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
March 10, 2026
Jamaica’s rebuilding must begin with the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority
When the Minister of Finance opens Jamaica’s Budget Debate this week, the disclosure of further details on the establishment of Jamaica’s National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) must be the main priority. Jamaica can ill afford any delays in its operationalization.
Source: Caribbean National Weekly
March 09, 2026
What Countries Can Learn from Jamaica’s Debt Reduction
Jamaica has achieved one of the most remarkable public debt reductions in recent history, cutting its public-debt-to-GDP ratio from around 140 percent in 2012 to about 62 percent in 2024.
Source: fundsforNGOs
March 08, 2026
Fiscal Commissioner clarifies law allows report publication before tabling in Parliament
Kingston, Jamaica — Jamaica’s fiscal commissioner has stated that the law allows the Independent Fiscal Commission (IFC) to publish its Economic and Fiscal Assessment Report after it has been submitted to Parliament, clarifying procedures after questions were raised by lawmakers last week.
Source: Jamaica Observer
March 08, 2026
Editorial | Minister Williams and Independent Fiscal Commission
The law establishing the Independent Fiscal Commission (IFC) sets out specific rules for the publication of reviews of the government’s fiscal strategies and outcomes. It is silent on if, or how, the finance minister should respond.
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
March 08, 2026
Budget reality check
Jamaica's fiscal watchdog is questioning whether the Government’s new budget is built on realistic numbers, warning that overly optimistic economic assumptions could mean the country ends up with less money than expected — and more debt than it is letting on
Source: Jamaica Observer
March 06, 2026
Fiscal Commissioner doubts gov't can spend full $205b capital budget
Fiscal Commissioner Courtney Williams says he has serious doubts that central government and self-financing public sector agencies will be able to spend the full $205 billion capital budget, or 5.3 per cent of GDP, projected for the 2026/2027 fiscal year.
Source: Radio Jamaica News
March 05, 2026
Gaps trigger credibility concerns from fiscal commissioner
Fiscal Commissioner Courtney Williams has raised questions about the credibility of aspects of the Government’s 2026-2027 Budget in his Economic and Fiscal Assessment Report (EFAR).
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
March 05, 2026
Wage negotiations unlikely to align with budget cycle given nature of talks, says Finance Minister
Despite concerns from the Fiscal Commissioner about the misalignment of wage negotiation cycles among public sector bodies, their unions and the government, Finance Minister Fayval Williams said the nature of those talks makes it virtually impossible for such activities to be in sync.
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
March 05, 2026
Opposition presses for fiscal commission report during budget review
The start of this morning’s sitting of the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament, which is examining the Government’s budget, was delayed after some Opposition members pressed for the report of the Independent Fiscal Commission, which reviewed the budget, to be presented.
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
February 18, 2026
Thoughts on the new tax package
Last week, Jamaica’s annual revenue measures were tabled along with the estimates of revenue and expenditure on the first day of the new parliamentary session, as recommended by the Independent Fiscal Commission, to allow scrutiny of the budget.
Source: Jamaica Observer
February 15, 2026
Fiscal watchdog warning triggers company tax deadline overhaul
February warning from Jamaica’s fiscal watchdog has prompted the Government to overhaul the timeline for corporate tax collections, moving the filing deadline to April 15 to reduce end-of-year fiscal risk.
Source: Jamaica Observer
February 01, 2026
Tourism’s dominance leaves Jamaica’s public finances exposed to climate shocks
Hurricane Melissa did more than damage hotels, roads and beaches. According to Jamaica’s fiscal watchdog, it exposed how tightly the country’s public finances remain tied to tourism and how climate shocks in a single sector can now transmit directly into the budget.
Source: Jamaica Observer
January 30, 2026
Rebuild faces execution tests
Jamaica's post-hurricane reconstruction drive risks being undermined by the State’s limited capacity to deliver large-scale public investment, despite strong fiscal buffers and access to financing, the Independent Fiscal Commission (IFC) warned on Tuesday in a report tabled in Parliament.
Source: Jamaica Observer
January 30, 2026
Fiscal watchdog sounds alarm as Jamaica plans post-hurricane rebuild
Jamaica’s fiscal watchdog has warned that rising public sector wage pressures are already straining the budget, complicating the Government’s ability to finance post-hurricane reconstruction.
Source: Jamaica Observer
January 30, 2026
Explainer: Why Jamaica keeps budgeting for projects it struggles to build
When Jamaica’s Independent Fiscal Commission (IFC) warned against “over-ambition in materially executing additional capital projects amid local capacity constraints,” the phrase sounded technical. But behind it lies a simple and persistent question: if the money is approved, why don’t the projects happen?
Source: Jamaica Observer
March 07, 2025
Downside risks to growth projections significant, says Fiscal Commissioner
Fiscal Commissioner Courtney Williams says while Jamaica’s fiscal position and policy are sustainable, downside risks to growth projections are significant, given current geopolitical uncertainties and potential for hydrological shocks such as hurricanes.
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
March 11, 2025
Editorial | IFC off to good start
The Independent Fiscal Commission (IFC) has made a promising start. Its assessment of the Government’s debt and macroeconomic projections, which is outlined in its Fiscal Policy Paper for the 2025-26 financial year, concludes that the administration’s forecasts are, on their face, sound.
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
March 13, 2025
Fiscal Commissioner Calls on Gov’t to Cap Public Sector Wages
Commissioner of the Independent Fiscal Commission, Courtney Williams, has added his voice to growing calls for the government to cap public sector wages.
Source: Nationwide News Network
March 18, 2025
Smile Jamaica Interview
Fiscal Commissioner Courtney Williams joins us to review the main points of the Independent Fiscal Commission's first Economic & Fiscal Assessment Report, which assesses the government’s debt and macroeconomic projections for 2025-2026.
Source: Television Jamaica
March 18, 2025
2025/26 Budget Deemed Credible by the Independent Fiscal Commission
The Independent Fiscal Commission (IFC) has determined that the 2025/26 Budget currently being debated in the House of Representatives is credible, based on macroeconomic and fiscal projections.
Source: JIS
March 18, 2025
Fiscal Commissioner Wants Revenue and Expenditure Tabled Together
Fiscal commissioner, Courtney Williams, is calling on the government to adopt a new budget process that would see the revenue measures tabled alongside the estimates of expenditure.
Source: Nationwide News Network
March 18, 2025
Independent Fiscal Commission says 2025/2026 national budget is credible but there are shortcomings
The Independent Fiscal Commission says the 2025/2026 national budget presented by Finance Minister Fayval Williams is credible, but there are shortcomings.
Source: IRIE FM
March 22, 2025
Independent Fiscal Commission says it’s unlawful to comment on initiatives put forward by Opposition during budget debate
The Independent Fiscal Commission has pointed out that it is not within its remit to comment on initiatives put forward by the Opposition during the 2025/2026 budget debate.
Source: IRIE FM
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