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We reformed the tax system: • We raised the Income Tax threshold to $1.5M. Now more than 400,000 Jamaicans no longer pay income tax. • We abolished the Minimum Business Tax. • We abolished the Asset Tax for unregulated businesses. Reduced stamp duty and transfer taxes on real estate lowering the cost of land transactions and stimulating the construction sector. Lowered estate taxes ("Death Taxes") Lowered GCT by 1.5%. Increased the GCT registration threshold from J$3 million to J$10 million which greatly benefitted small businesses. Introduced MSME Tax Credit .
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We established the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation which has been crucial to driving development in water, housing, roads, port infrastructure and other critical developments over the last 4 years.
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The Jamaica Labour Party government restored the benefits under the Junior Stock Exchange, which the opposition wanted to scrap. The JSE has allowed many MSMEs to grow and employ more people. Almost 50,000 Jamaicans are now shareholders in Government assets with the listing of state-owned enterprises on the Jamaica Stock Exchange by the Jamaica Labour Party Government. We will continue to socialize wealth for all our people.
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WATER
• 28 billion spent over the last 4 and a half years to bring water to more Jamaicans. • Non-revenue water losses in reduced by more than 42.5%; Active leak detection program implemented; over 22,000 leaks have been found by the teams with an average of 1,000 leaks found monthly within the last year. Budgetary allocation to the Rural Water Supply Limited increased by several hundred millions to repair, build, and install means to bring water to unserved and underserved rural communities including: 26 rural projects being completed all across Jamaica to provide piped water solutions to 56,000 residents. 12 catchment tanks have been rehabilitated and works are on-going on 14 others to provide water to another 6,000 people. 38 rainwater harvesting solutions with a capacity of 20,000 gallons constructed After 38 years, potable water is now available to communities in St. James Central. After 48 years, potable water is now available to communities in Eastern Hanover. 20,000 residents benefit from $630 million Essex Valley Water Supply Project in Junction, St. Elizabeth. The highly anticipated irrigation phase is under way. 20,000 residents in Kingston and St Andrew benefitted from improved water supply. 3 Wastewater Treatment Plants (Pond Systems) upgraded. Rehabilitation of the Greater Portmore Wastewater Treatment Plant in St. Catherine
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REBUILDING TOWNS & CITIES.
• The face of Downtown Kingston being transformed • Plans finalized and ground broken to start construction of the new Morant Bay Urban Centre in Springfield, St. Thomas. This project is expected to provide 3,000 jobs for the people of St. Thomas. • Closed Harbour Beach project in St. James scheduled for completion this calendar year.
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HOUSING
NHT • Close to 20,000 housing starts for Jamaican families by NHT, the most houses built by any administration in any term. • Lowered ALL interest rates on ALL new NHT loans • Additional discounts for public servants and certain vulnerable citizens. • Introduced the intergenerational mortgage Programme. HAJ • The HAJ has laid the groundwork for its largest-yet output of affordable housing: • Catherine Estates, St. Catherine - The largest low-income housing project of its kind since Greater Portmore in the
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early 1990s is set to deliver 1,650 starter homes with a starting price of $5.5M. • Shooters Hill, St. Catherine - This development will provide 623 housing solutions ranging from starter one-bedroom units up to three-bedroom units in a mixed development starting at an average price of $7.6M. • Rhyne Park, St. James - Work on this development has already begun and will provide in 754 mixed housing solutions starting at an average price of $7.6M. • HAJ will also make housing available for over 3000 Jamaican families. Jamaica Mortgage Bank The Jamaica Mortgage Bank has financed or monitored a record 471 housing solutions valued at 6.1 billion and will continue to finance more housing starts for even more Jamaicans
Economic Growth Council appointed to advise the government on policies and reforms to drive economic growth; Minister Nigel Clarke appointed Special Ambassador with responsibility for multilateral financial negotiations Senator Aubyn Hill appointed Special Investment Ambassador. Mrs. Paula Kerr Jarrett Wegman was also appointed Ambassador and Special Envoy for Investment and Philanthropy.
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HOPE Over 26,000 Jamaicans trained under the Housing Opportunity, Production and Employment programme, HOPE.
HOPE gives youth the opportunity to: Learn a skill while they earn, and it allows them to give of their time through volunteering, while saving a portion of what they earn. National Youth Service Corps • Over 2000 Jamaicans trained through the Jamaica Defense Force and many have gone on to become members of the JDF. Heart Trust NTSA • 146,000 Jamaicans were trained in a wide array of areas. Certification of experienced individuals without formal education. JAMAICA LABOUR PARTY SCHOLARSHIP FUND • 5 full national scholarships focusing on the STEM areas; 4 partial scholarships and 126 bursaries provided by the Jamaica Labour Party. • 5 new full national scholarships by the Jamaica Labour Party to be taken up in the next academic year.
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DIGITIZATION • •
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E-Gov expanded through the Ministry of Science Energy and Technology. Jamaicans can now do the following online: Renew passport Payfor drivers' licenses Pay most taxes HOPE interns being trained in digitization.
Upgrading of Clarke’s Town Market in Trelawny almost complete; Brand-new complex being built to house the Hopewell Market in Hanover; Works being completed at the Papine and construction designs are done for Stony Hill Markets in St. Andrew. Funds allocated for remedial works for the Santa Cruz Market in St. Elizabeth.
BUILD BACK
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