The House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 18, passed the fiscal rule legislation, which is to be enacted by the end of this month. The fiscal rules will seek to bolster transparency within the economy and ensure a sustainable budget. It will also mean that Parliament will have a greater responsibility in the management of the country’s economic affairs. The...

As part of a strategy to re-build the coffee industry, Government Senator, Norman Grant, has called for the imposition of a cess on imported coffee. He suggested that this levy could be placed in a special fund to be used to expand the local coffee industry. Senator Grant, who is also President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), made the...

The Port Authority of Jamaica and China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) have arrived at an Initial Framework Agreement that provides the general terms and conditions under which discussions will continue regarding the proposed development of Portland Bight/Goat Island. Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, in a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday,...

Opposition Senator, Robert Montague, is recommending that the Government utilise the expertise of retired judges and lawyers to clear the backlog of cases in the courts. “They can firstly review some of the case files and close some and move swiftly to trial with the others,” he argued. Senator Montague, who was making his contribution to the State of the...

The Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) Bill, popularly called the ‘anti-gang’ legislation, was passed in the House of Representatives on February 18 with 22 amendments. The Bill makes provision for the disruption and suppression of criminal organisations and outlines offences, in order to restore a sense of security in the Jamaican society and strengthen the capacity of law enforcement...

The Government has banned the importation of all jet skis for commercial or private use for a further six months, until October 15, 2014. This was disclosed by Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, during a sitting of the House of Representatives on February 18. Following two accidents involving jet skis on August 17 and 21, 2013, Cabinet...

Debate on the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) Bill, popularly called the ‘anti gang’ legislation, began in the House of Representatives on February 11. The Bill makes provision for the disruption and suppression of criminal organisations and outlines offences, in order to restore a sense of security in the Jamaican society and strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies...