Jamaica : Request for Stand By Arrangement and Cancellation of the Current Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility-Press Release and Staff Report

Jamaica’s current 4-year Extended Arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) expires in April 2017. A commendable track record of program ownership and implementation has resulted in significant strides in restoring macroeconomic stability, reducing public debt, and addressing a multitude of structural issues. Still, growth has fallen short of expectations, poverty and unemployment remain high, and crime and security are increasingly binding impediments to growth and prosperity.