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The House of Representatives began debate on the International Corporate and Trust Services Providers (Change of Name and Amendment) Act, 2021, on Wednesday (October 27). Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, said the Bill seeks to amend the International Corporate and Trust Services Providers Act (the Principal Act), which was passed and assented to on August 18, 2017 and awaits an appointed day. The Principal Act seeks to regulate international trust and corporate service providers to prevent the misuse of these business arrangements as vehicles for illicit ends, such as money laundering and terrorism financing. “The Bill aims to remove the distinction in treatment between the domestic and international service providers by bringing domestic services providers under the ambit of the legislation and to strengthen the provisions of the Principal Act,” Dr. Clarke said. He noted that the Principal Act sought to regulate providers of international trust and corporate services and applies to individuals, firms and companies that engage in the business of providing international services. “However, whilst the Act awaited the development and promulgation of regulations, it was recognised that there was a need to include domestic corporate and trust providers into the regulatory ambit of the Act, because to maintain any distinction in treatment between the domestic and international service providers would run afoul of the requirements and standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requirements,” Dr. Clarke said. (more) Debate begins…2 “Importantly, this was amongst the deficiencies cited in Jamaica’s anti-money laundering countering of terrorism financing supervisory regime and contributed to Jamaica’s inclusion in the current FATF grey list issued on February 21, 2020, as a jurisdiction subject to increased monitoring,” he added. (more) The Minister said the amendment to the Act is critical to redeeming Jamaica’s standing and forms part of the suite of actions that are required for the country’s removal from any of those listings by FATF. Debate on the Bill was suspended and will continue during another sitting of the House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives began debate on the International Corporate and Trust Services Providers (Change of Name and Amendment) Act, 2021, on Wednesday (October 27). Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, said the Bill seeks to amend the International Corporate and Trust Services Providers Act (the Principal Act), which was passed and assented to on August 18, 2017 and awaits an appointed day. The Principal Act seeks to regulate international trust and corporate service providers to prevent the misuse of these business arrangements as vehicles for illicit ends, such as money laundering and terrorism financing. “The Bill aims to remove the distinction in treatment between the domestic and international service providers by bringing domestic services providers under the ambit of the legislation and to strengthen the provisions of the Principal Act,” Dr. Clarke said. He noted that the Principal Act sought to regulate providers of international trust and corporate services and applies to individuals, firms and companies that engage in the business of providing international services. “However, whilst the Act awaited the development and promulgation of regulations, it was recognised that there was a need to include domestic corporate and trust providers into the regulatory ambit of the Act, because to maintain any distinction in treatment between the domestic and international service providers would run afoul of the requirements and standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requirements,” Dr. Clarke said. (more) Debate begins…2 “Importantly, this was amongst the deficiencies cited in Jamaica’s anti-money laundering countering of terrorism financing supervisory regime and contributed to Jamaica’s inclusion in the current FATF grey list issued on February 21, 2020, as a jurisdiction subject to increased monitoring,” he added. (more) The Minister said the amendment to the Act is critical to redeeming Jamaica’s standing and forms part of the suite of actions that are required for the country’s removal from any of those listings by FATF. Debate on the Bill was suspended and will continue during another sitting of the House of Representatives.

Debate Begins on Bill To Regulate International Trust And Corporate Service Providers

The House of Representatives began debate on the International Corporate and Trust Services Providers (Change of Name and Amendment) Act, 2021, on Wednesday (October 27). Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, said the Bill...
Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., speaks in the House of Representatives on October 27.
Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., speaks in the House of Representatives on October 27.

Jamaica To Participate In Climate Change Conference In Scotland
: “A Worthwhile Donation” - NWC’s Regional Manager, Herman Fagan (second left), makes a presentation to Harry Hanson, principal of Cambridge High School, and two of his students.
: “A Worthwhile Donation” - NWC’s Regional Manager, Herman Fagan (second left), makes a presentation to Harry Hanson, principal of Cambridge High School, and two of his students.

NWC Praised For Donating 140 Tablets to Jamaican Schools
Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, heads a group of Community Health Aides during a COVID-19 vaccine public education initiative in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, on October 27. The team also conducted a sensitisation exercise in the town centre where they distributed flyers, pamphlets, masks and T-shirts.
Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, heads a group of Community Health Aides during a COVID-19 vaccine public education initiative in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, on October 27. The team also conducted a sensitisation exercise in the town centre where they distributed flyers, pamphlets, masks and T-shirts.

PHOTOS: COVID-19 Sensitisation Exercise In Spanish Town
Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, addressing the Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ) semi-virtual microinsurance conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, on Wednesday (October 27). The event was held under the theme ‘Microinsurance – The Jamaican Perspective’.
Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, addressing the Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ) semi-virtual microinsurance conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, on Wednesday (October 27). The event was held under the theme ‘Microinsurance – The Jamaican Perspective’.

Insurance Soon To Be A Reality For Informal And Small Businesses

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Programme Director, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Community Renewal Programme, Charles Clayton, makes a point during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank at the agency’s head office in Kingston on Wednesday (October 27).
Finance & Public Service

Persons Invited To Register For PIOJ Symposium On Best Practices For Social And Community Renewal

Persons who work or have interest in the field of development and community interventions are being invited to register for the Symposium on Best Practices for Social and Community Renewal scheduled for Wednesday (November 10) at 9:00 a.m. The event, being held under the theme ‘Linking the Pieces: A Holistic Approach to Community Renewal’, is hosted by the Planning Institute...
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Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (right), is greeted by Emirates Airlines’ Senior VP, Commercial Operations – Americas, Salem Obaidalla, following a productive meeting at the company’s Dubai Headquarters. During the meeting, which took place on October 24, they discussed the possibility of introducing a special service between Dubai and Jamaica, in celebration of Jamaica Day at the Dubai Expo 2020, being observed in February 2022.
Foreign AffairsTourism

Talks In Progress For Emirates Airlines To Introduce Flight From Dubai

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says talks are ongoing with top representatives of Emirates Airlines to introduce a flight from Dubai to Jamaica early next year. Mr. Bartlett’s remarks come following the wrap-up of marketing activities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on October 24, which included “a crucial meeting” with senior executives of Emirates Airlines at their Dubai...
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Assistant Director, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa.
CoronavirusCOVID-19 VaccinationHealth & Wellness

Jamaica To Get More Vaccines Through COVAX Facility

Jamaica is slated to get another 370,000 doses of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines through the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility. The provision, which is expected to arrive in the next few weeks, is part of more than three million doses being dispatched by COVAX to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) this week for deployment to...
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Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, emphasises a point, while making a statement during the sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday (October 26).
CoronavirusCOVID-19 VaccinationEducationHealth & WellnessInformationParliamentPrime MinisterYouth

376 Primary Schools To Reopen For Face-To-Face Classes

A total of 376 primary schools have been selected to reopen for face-to-face classes, beginning Monday (November 8). This arrangement will apply to 45,390 students and approximately 2,520 teachers. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who made the announcement, said the schools were selected following an in-depth risk assessment of the 759 primary schools across the island. “The Ministry...
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Chairman of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operationalisation Task Force, Professor Gordon Shirley (second left), is in discussion with other members of the task force (from left) Consultant, Office of the Prime Minister, Alok Jain; Brigadier Markland Lloyd of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF); and President and Chief Executive Officer, ICD Group Holdings Limited, Peter Melhado, during a press conference at Jamaica House on October 27.
CoronavirusCOVID-19 VaccinationHealth & Wellness

Task Force Recommends Vaccination, Testing Protocol For Workers

Chairman of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operationalisation Task Force, Professor Gordon Shirley, is recommending a protocol for the vaccination or testing of certain categories of workers as part of measures to improve coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination coverage in the country. He said that implementation of the protocol should be preceded by a robust education programme aimed at addressing vaccine hesitancy and...
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As hundreds of primary-level institutions prepare to resume face-to-face instruction, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is advising school administrators to ensure that all the necessary protocols are in place. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, announced on Tuesday (October 26), that 376 schools have been selected to offer in-person classes beginning November 8. The Education Ministry, in a bulletin, said that administrators are required to obtain a satisfactory institutional health inspection and coronavirus (COVID-19)-compliant approval report from the Ministry of Health and Wellness for this new academic year. In addition, administrators should engage parents in consultation to arrive at a consensus on the start date for in-person learning, which should provide adequate time to prepare the students. They should also submit, to the regional office, a copy of the satisfactory health report and a letter signed by the board chairman, indicating the extent of the parent consultation and the proposed start date for face-to-face engagement. The letter is to outline the schedule for in-person learning, including the approach to be used – whole day or rotational. Where the COVID-19 protocols allow, all the students should be accommodated daily. However, where this is not possible, each year group will be given at least two days of in-person learning each week. The education region in consultation with the Ministry’s Planning and Development Division and the Schools’ Operations and Improvement Services Branch, will provide written approval for the commencement of face-to-face instruction. The region will also provide monitoring support as is customary.
CoronavirusEducationInformationYouth

Schools Advised To Put Protocols In Place For In-Person Classes

As hundreds of primary-level institutions prepare to resume face-to-face instruction, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is advising school administrators to ensure that all the necessary protocols are in place. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, announced on Tuesday (October 26), that 376 schools have been selected to offer in-person classes beginning November 8. The Education Ministry, in...
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State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Robert Morgan (left), speaks with Javaughn Barrett (centre) and Nandre Stewart, at the launch of the Optimist International Caribbean District’s flagship project, ‘Mentorship For At- Risk Youth’, on Wednesday (October 27) at the YMCA in St. Andrew.
InformationYouth

Over 6,000 Calls To 211 Child Abuse Helpline

State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Robert Morgan, says that the 211 child abuse helpline, launched in September, is yielding results. He noted that children, as well as concerned members of the public, have been reporting incidents of abuse through this medium. “Since the launch of 211 in September, we have received over 6,000 calls...
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