The Government is again hinting that it could be forced to seek help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to meet Jamaica's demand for foreign exchange.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding said yesterday that the Government was concerned that there might not be adequate supplies of foreign exchange to meet the country's demand throughout the fiscal year.

Golding was responding to questions from opposition members in Parliament.

Impact of crisis

He said this was because of the impact of the global financial crisis on Jamaica's main sources of foreign exchange, particularly bauxite, remittances and tourism.

Two local bauxite companies have been temporarily closed as a result of the crisis, while remittances have dipped by 14 per cent this quarter compared with the similar period last year.

He said talks with the IMF were only a precautionary measure.

Golding said discussions with IMF so far were only to identify the facilities available at the fund if Jamaica needed to seek support for its balance of payments.

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