Vaz said that the policy will speak to a regulatory framework that is appropriate for a fully liberalised environment and should bolster investor confidence and maintain Jamaica's position as a communications leader in the region.

Vaz was speaking in the Sectoral Debate in the House of Represen-tatives on Wednesday.

Turning to other matters, Vaz also said the Government of Jamaica /Inter-American Development Bank Information and Communications Technology Project had been extended until June 2010. The extension, he said, would facilitate completion of the online tax-payment system component.

Tax portal

He said that, so far, the project has upgraded the infrastructure of Fiscal Services Limited (FSL) at a cost of more than US$4 million. The project also established a tax portal and is seeing a steady increase in the use of this facility.

FSL is a diversified government-owned information service company, providing a full range of computer services and technical support to the Government.

It is the major link in the information flow between the revenue departments. It is now re-engineering the tax processes to finalise an e-filing application component that will allow online filing of tax returns.

Under this programme, the online submission of general consumption tax/special consumption tax returns became possible last year October. PAYE, NIS, HEART and Education Tax, as well as corporate and personal income taxes, will be added during the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

Persons wishing to pay taxes online can do so at www.jamaicatax-online.gov.jm