The report of the Joint Select Committee to review the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) Act, 2014, commonly called the anti-gang legislation, was adopted in the House of Representatives on May 27. Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, said that every effort will be made to move speedily to the next stage of making the Cabinet submission...

A Motion calling for legislative changes to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) Act, to strengthen the investigative capabilities of the organisation was tabled in the House of Representatives by Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, on May 27. A Joint Select Committee of the Houses of Parliament reviewed and reported on the Act in October 2015. It recommended, in light...

The Government has commenced work to review and revise the requisite strategic actions for implementing the country’s long-term National Development Plan – Vision 2030 Jamaica – in light of the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Plan aims to positon Jamaica to achieve developed country status, and in the process, make it the place of choice to live, work,...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has called for the creation of a revamped system of global, financial and monetary governance that focuses on the most vulnerable groups in society. He was addressing the United Nations (UN) ‘Virtual High-Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond’ on Thursday (May 28). The Prime Minister co-convened...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC), Kaysia Kerr, has indicated that several parents across the island have been taking advantage of the agency's helplines. The 36 helplines, which were launched on April 6, were put in place to assist with the psychosocial first aid of parents during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. They were implemented by...

The House of Representatives on Wednesday (May 27), approved amendments to the Financial Audit and Administration (FAA) Act to postpone Jamaica’s target of reducing debt to gross domestic product (GDP) to 60 per cent, by two years. The legislation will facilitate the extension of the timeline from March 31, 2026 to March 31, 2028. In his address, Minister of Finance...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting that the economy contracted by an estimated 1.7 per cent for the January to March 2020 quarter, relative to the corresponding period last year. The Institute says that the March 2020 quarter out-turn largely reflected implementation of measures to manage the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which commenced in mid-March; and lower capacity utilisation...