Government issues cement import licences as Great Wall Motor opens Kingston showroom

The Government has issued import licences to five companies to bring in a combined 390,000 tons of cement as it responds to shortages affecting the construction sector and the wider economy. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Senator Aubyn Hill said Rock Hard Cement, Tankweld Metals, Island Concrete, Gore Developments, and The Buying House received the approvals following consultations with industry stakeholders and Cabinet discussions. Hill told RJR News the quotas were set after those reviews.

Senator Hill also delivered the keynote address at the opening of Great Wall Motor's US$7 million showroom at Stewart's Automotive Group on South Camp Road. The 9,000-square-foot facility, named the Diana Stewart Building, welcomed more than 500 guests at its 3 June launch. Great Wall Motor, one of China's leading privately owned automotive manufacturers with operations in more than 170 countries and regions, chose Jamaica for a permanent, purpose-built presence. Hill described the investment as a clear vote of confidence in the local economy.

On the Jamaica Stock Exchange for 19 June 2026, Dollar Financial Services Limited led turnover with 4,361,758 units, representing 20.25% of market sales. Kingston Hire Holdings Jamaica Limited traded 3,430,584 units (15.93%), and Wigton Energy Limited moved 2,042,589 units (9.48%). Activity remained concentrated in energy, distribution, and finance stocks, reflecting continued interest in dividend-producing and strategic assets.

Bank of Jamaica data for the same date showed strong foreign-exchange demand. The US dollar sold at $158.58 and bought at $156.53. The Canadian dollar sold at $112.80 and bought at $111.92. The British pound sold at $209.32 and bought at $204.59.

The report also noted that a current credit report can help people assess remaining assets, reliable income, and unresolved legal rights when rebuilding finances after major life changes. For single-parent entrepreneurs, maintaining separate reserves for emergencies, growth, and operating costs—funded before discretionary spending—can support resilience when business and family pressures coincide.