Pieces of legislation under the portfolio of the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology are to be amended to provide for increases in monetary penalties and custodial sentences. This follows Cabinet’s approval of the increases that were recommended by the Science, Energy and Technology Ministry. Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Fayval Williams, made the disclosure at a virtual...

The Senate today (November 26) approved the Legal Aid Amendment Regulations 2021. The regulations set out new legal aid fees to be paid to attorneys in criminal trials, among other things. Piloting the motion, Government Senator, Ransford Braham, said it is designed to increase the fees that are paid to attorneys who have agreed to do legal-aid assignments in relation...

Cabinet has given approval for the execution of the World Free Zones Organization (WFZO) Agreement between the WFZO and the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), for the Authority’s hosting of the 8th Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE). The conference and exhibition is scheduled to be held June 7 to 10, 2022 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Addressing the virtual...

A Service Excellence Policy has been developed for implementation across the public sector. This Policy is intended to establish and incorporate a culture of service delivery excellence within the sector. Cabinet is slated to receive a draft of the document for review and deliberations shortly. This was disclosed by Director General of the Public Sector Transformation and Modernisation Division, Office...

Cabinet is shortly expected to deliberate on the proposed implementation of a Government of Jamaica Employee Management Policy. The Policy incorporates minimum standards that will, among other things, standardise the approach to employee performance management across the public sector. It is expected to facilitate a culture of performance among public servants by enabling their development to become results-oriented, high performing...

The Cabinet of Jamaica officially resumed in-person meetings on Monday (October 11) after approximately 10 months of convening remotely. As part of the protocol for the return to face-to-face meetings, Cabinet members presented their coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination cards for inspection by protocol staff of the Office of the Prime Minister. In his remarks at the start of this session, Prime...

A proposal for the establishment of seven years of secondary education in Jamaica has been approved by Cabinet. Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Fayval Williams, who made the disclosure while addressing Wednesday’s (October 6) virtual post-Cabinet press briefing, said this will allow all students to have access to learning opportunities in grades 12 and 13 (sixth form). “The...