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A modern defamation bill, which seeks to protect journalists in the execution of their duties, is to go before Parliament shortly. Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, told journalists at a Jamaica House press briefing on Wednesday, March 20, that Cabinet had approved the tabling of the bill to correct inadequacies in the present defamation laws....

Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, saysthere is need for a review of the overall arrangements of the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB), to address, among other things, the high delinquency rate. “There is too high a delinquency ratio in relation to some of these funds and loans on the portfolio. It is designed as a revolving fund,...

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, March 19, approved the withdrawal of $94.3 billion from the Consolidated Fund, to allow the Government to carry-on its business from April 1 to July 31. The sum is needed for Government spending on critical areas, until the new budget is passed. Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, in moving the...

Debate on the legislation to combat the illicit lottery scam opened in the Senate on Friday, March 15. It will continue on March 21. The Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act specifically targets that criminal activity and other related fraudulent actions. It was passed in the House of Representatives last week. The lottery scam, centred primarily in western Jamaica,...

Arrangements are being made for Parliamentarians to officially pay tribute to the late President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, who passed away on Tuesday, March 5, after a two-year battle with cancer. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, made the announcement during Tuesday’s sitting of the House of Representatives. In expressing condolences on behalf of...

Legislation to regularise withdrawals from the Capital Development Fund (CDF), which were carried out in contravention of the Bauxite Production Levy Act, was passed on March 1, in the Senate. The Bauxite (Production Levy) (Validation and Indemnity) Act, which was piloted by Minister of Justice, Senator Mark Golding, also indemnifies the public servants who carried out the withdrawals in good...

The House of Representatives, on February 26, approved three Bills to remove flogging and whipping from the country’s statute books as a penalty for any offence. Bills passed were: the Larceny (Amendment) Act 2012; the Law Reform (Flogging and Whipping) (Abolition) Act, 2012; and the Obeah (Amendment) Act 2012. The practice of whipping and flogging ceased in Jamaica’s penal institutions...

Legislation to strengthen the efforts of law enforcement to effectively combat the illicit lottery scam was laid before the House of Representatives on February 26. The Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act 2012, which was tabled by Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, makes specific provisions for offences relating to advanced fee fraud and other fraudulent transactions. According...

The Government’s proposed budget for 2013/2014 is to be laid in the House of Representatives in the afternoon of Thursday, April 4, following presentation of the Throne Speech by Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, in the morning. This was noted on Wednesday, February 27, by Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer,...

A Bill to facilitate the withdrawal of $11.4 billion annually from the National Housing Trust (NHT), to provide budgetary support for the Government over the next four years, was tabled in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, February 26. The Bill, entitled the National Housing Trust (Special Provisions) Act 2013, was tabled by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the...

Legislation to regularise withdrawals from the Capital Development Fund (CDF), which were carried out in contravention of the Bauxite Production Levy Act, was passed on Tuesday, February 19, in the House of Representatives. The Bauxite (Production Levy) (Validation and Indemnity) Act, which was piloted by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, also indemnifies the public servants,...

A Bill to establish the Building Act to facilitate the adoption and efficient application of the National Building Code will be brought to both Houses of Parliament in the near future. This was disclosed by Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, during a sitting of the Senate on Friday, February 8. The Minister was contributing to the debate...