| PART IV | - | Currency, coinage and Legal Tender | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Currency of the Island. 7/1969 1st Sch. |
10. | (1) The currency of the Island shall be the decimal currency provided for in this Part and shall consist of the notes and coins in such currency issued by the Bank under this Act. (2) The monetary unit, or unit of currency, of the island is the (3) The denominations of money in the currency of the island (4) A cent is one-hundredth part of a dollar.
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| Parity of the Jamaica dollar
31/1966
31/1966 |
11.
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(1) The parity of the Jamaica dollar shall be fixed on such basis as the Minister may from time to time, after consultation with the Governor, by order, declare. (2) An order made under subsection (1) may contain such (3) An order made under subsection (1) shall be subject to
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| Sole right to issue notes an d coins. 18/1973 S. 7. |
12. | (1) Subject to section 14, the Bank shall have the sole right and authority to issue notes and coins in the Island. (2) No person other than the Bank shall issue in Jamaica notes (3) Any person who contravenes subsection (2) shall be guilty
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| Exemption from stamp duty on notes |
13. | Notes issued by the Bank shall be exempt payment of stamp duties |
| Denominations and forms of notes and coins 18/1973 S. 8 (a).
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14. | (1) The Minister may after consultation with the bank -
(2) The power of the Minister under paragraph (a) of subsection
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| Legal tender. 7/1969 1st Sch. 12/1971 S. 2.
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15. | (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) and of section 16, a tender of payment of money -
(2) A coin that is bent, mutilated or defaced, or that has been
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| Demonetization of notes and coins.
21/1978 S. 2. |
16. | (1) The Bank shall have the power on giving three months notice in the Gazette to call in any notes or coins on payment of the face value thereof and any such notes or coins with respect to which a notice has been given under this section shall, on the expiration of the notice, cease to be legal tender, but shall be redeemed by the Bank upon such conditions as may be prescribed. (2) A person shall not be entitled to recover from the Bank the (3) If the Minister considers it necessary or expedient to do he
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| 17. | Repealed | |
| Contracts, etc., to be in currency
7/1969 |
18. | Every contract sale, payment, bill, note, instrument and security for money, and every transaction, dealing, matter and thing whatever relating to money or the liability to pay any money which is made, executed or entered into, done and had according to the currency of the Island and not otherwise unless they are made, executed, entered into, done or had according to the currency of some other country, so, however, that nothing in this section shall operate so as to invalidate a will or other testamentary instrument. |
| Functions of Bank in relation to currency |
19. | The Bank shall -
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| 20. | Repealed. | |
| Reserve assets in relation to currency issue 18/1973 S.11 |
21. | (1) The Bank shall hold assets of an amount in value s sufficient to cover the value of the total amount of notes coins for the time being circulated. (2) Repealed (3) For the purposes of subsection (1) such assets shall
(4) For the purposes of this section-
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| Power of Minister to make regulations 18/1973 S. 12. |
22. | The Minister, after consulation with the Bank, may make regulations -
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setting interest rates to keep inflation low
contributing to a stable financial system
controlling our currency
The Bank of Jamaica, established by the Bank of Jamaica Law (1960), began operations in May 1961, terminating the Currency Board System which had been in existence from 1939.
The Central Bank stands at the center of the local financial system and is charged with the responsibility to promote and maintain financial system stability. To achieve this objective, the Bank supervises the activities of deposit-taking entities. In addition, the Bank seeks to promote the development of the local financial markets, and regulates and supports the major clearing and settlement systems.
Under the Bank of Jamaica Act (1960), the conduct of monetary policy is aimed at regulating the growth of money and credit in line with the resources expected to finance economic activity and generate employment, without undermining the conditions of price stability.
The Foreign Exchange section provides current and historical information on the movements of major currencies in relation to the Jamaican dollar. The section also provides powerful search techniques for users to manipulate the data and generate customize reports.
Under the Bank of Jamaica Act, the central bank has sole authority for the issue of notes and coins used in Jamaica..
The Bank of Jamaica publishes in the daily newspaper each quarter, balance sheet data for commercial banks, building societies and licensees under the Financial Institutions Act . Such financial data is based on unaudited prudential returns submitted by the licensees to the Bank of Jamaica which are required to be certified by the licensee 's management as reflecting a true and fair representation of the affairs and condition of the institution at the reporting date.
The Bank of Jamaica is committed to providing information on its activities on a timely and continuous basis. In this regard, this section is designed to provide access to all major releases compiled by the Bank of Jamaica.
The Bank of Jamaica publications are aimed at providing quality economic and financial analysis and information on Jamaica as well as timely updates on matters relating directly to the functions of the Bank.