#Kingston, February 12, 2019 – Jamaica – Jamaica will host the 37^th Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC) Annual Conference from June 20 to 22.  The event was formally launched by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, on February 8.

Some 500 accounting and business professionals from across the region as well as key local private and public sector decision makers are expected to attend the two-day conference, slated for the Jamaica Pegasus, under the theme,: ‘Navigating Global Disruption: Creating Opportunities’.

Guest speaker will be Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of CoveyLink Worldwide, Stephen M.R. Covey.  The world renowned speaker is also the author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal’s best-selling book, ‘The Speed of Trust’.

Also slated to speak is Global Strategy Director for Financial and Professional Services Industries, Oracle America, Kimberly Ellison Taylor.

Mrs. Williams, in her remarks, lauded the country’s chartered accountants on their sterling contribution to national development, particularly in assisting with the Government’s tax reform process.

“Yours is a profession of high ethical standards and I can say that our Government believes that you are doing a very good job as chartered accountants,” she said.

Mrs. Williams added that the profession’s importance to the wide-ranging reform process “is highlighted in several recommendations made by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica and the private sector in Jamaica”, citing the shift from direct to indirect taxation, as an example.

“It is your profession that governments turn to for advice on how to maintain and navigate [the economy]. Families and businesses [also] turn to you when their financial dreams are broken and when they want to deal with other affairs. I am awed by the enormity of what you do,” the Minister further said.

Release: JIS

Contact: E. Hartman Reckord

Header: Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams (right), interacts with Executive Director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica, Rosemarie Heaven (centre), and Managing Partner of the accounting firm, Bert Smith and Company, George Willie, during the official launch of the 37^th Annual Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC) at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, on February 8.

JIS Photographer: Rudranath Fraser