Debate on the Committal Proceedings Act 2013, which seeks to eliminate preliminary enquiries in Resident Magistrates’ courts,commenced in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, September 23. Attorney General, Hon. Patrick Atkinson, who opened the debate, outlined that the aim of the legislation is to alleviate or reduce problems caused by and related to inordinate delay, high legal costs and the...

A draft Green Paper on the Climate Change Policy Framework and Action Plan will be tabled shortly in the House of Representatives. This was disclosed by Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, during Tuesday’s (September 10) sitting of the House of Representatives. The Minister was responding to a motion brought by Member of Parliament for...

The Ministry of National Security is actively taking steps to address the increase in the homicide rates for the period July and August, 2013. These include accelerating the passage of relevant legislation, enhancing the mobility and technical capability of the force, increasing police checkpoints, among other measures. In a report in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, September 10, Portfolio Minister,...

The House of Representatives, on July 30, passed the Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2013, to regularise measures already in place, and make permanent, the revenue measures that were introduced as at April 1. “It does not represent new or additional measures,” said Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips. The changes, which were implemented by way of...

The ban on smoking in specified public places will remain in force, but with some changes, which will ensure that the Government is acting in line with the spirit of the Regulations, while protecting public health. This was announced on Tuesday, July 30, by Health Minister, Hon. Dr Fenton Ferguson, in a Statement to the House of Representatives. The section...

Minister of Finance and the Planning, Hon. Dr. Peter Phillips, says the Government’s revenue target for this fiscal year will not be altered. He was responding to a question submitted by Opposition Spokesman, Audley Shaw, in the House of Representatives on July 30, as to whether the ban on smoking in specified spaces would impact sales, and by extension the...

The House of Representatives, on July 30, paid tribute to former Cabinet Minister, Douglas Manley, who passed away on July 26 after a long illness. He was 91 years old. The tributes were led by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, who said Mr. Manley had been “endowed with a most calm demeanor”, and was “an extremely relaxed...