The Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) on Monday opened its satellite office in Montego Bay, St James.

The new office will facilitate greater interaction between the Government agency and stakeholders in the western region and should result in efficient service and convenience, according to the COJ. Concurrently, the new office should also improve the compliance rate of businesses operating outside of Kingston and St Andrew.

“It is our pleasure at the Companies Office of Jamaica to advise that we will be opening an office at 10 Delisser Drive (Office of the Prime Minister –West), Montego Bay, St. James, on Monday, October 10, 2016 to serve our stakeholders and clients in the West,” the Government agency said.

However, the agency noted that the new location will operate on a cashless system.

“As such we will only be accepting credit/debit cards and manager’s cheques. Should you have cash, you will need to lodge the payment to our account and take in the receipt when completing your transaction,” the COJ said.

The new satellite office will serve the parishes of St Ann, St James, Trelawny, Westmoreland and Hanover, and will allow for the registration and filing of company documents, thus easing paperwork at its Kingston branch.

Earlier this year, the COJ also announced that it will be rolling out an online-based facility, dubbed electronic business registration form (eBRF), which will be used to register company and business names from anywhere in the world.

“The initiative will provide customers with a convenient alternative to manual registration. Customers will be able to access registration via the COJ’s website,” the agency stated.

The Government agency also hopes to provide kiosks at its office as well as the Tax Administration of Jamaica’s revenue centres across the island for individuals without access to the Internet.

COJ, through its newly redesigned website, offers online services including local and overseas company registration, business and company name registration, particulars of directors and change of directors and removal of companies.

— Karena Bennett