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The Houses of Parliament wishes to inform the public that Parliament is still in session.  The Houses of Parliament emphasizes this in light of the numerous queries it has received as a result of an article published in the October 5 edition of the Gleaner Online first entitled “Parliament Suspended Indefinitely” and later “Parliament Adjourned”. The motion by the Hon....

KINGSTON — Cabinet has approved amendments to the Telecommunications Act to address certain insufficiencies in the current legislation. This was disclosed by Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, at September 29 post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. “The proposed amendments will address weaknesses identified in the Telecommunications Act and afford the Regulatory bodies the...

KINGSTON — Member of Parliament for South Western St. Ann, Ernest Smith, has said the Committal Proceedings Act will go a far way in reducing the pressure on the Resident Magistrates’ courts and speed up the hearing of cases.  Mr. Smith was responding to comments from Member of Parliament for North West St. Catherine, Robert Pickersgill, as debate on the...

KINGSTON — A Bill to establish the Building Act, 2011,  to facilitate the adoption and efficient  application of the National Building Code, was tabled in the House of Representatives on September 27. Tabled by Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, the Bill will seek to repeal the Kingston and St. Andrew Building Act of 1883 and the Parish Councils Building...

KINGSTON — Member of Parliament for South West St. Ann, Ernest Smith, has moved a motion urging the House of Representatives to examine the proposals contained in the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP). The motion also urged the Lower House to determine the programme's feasibility as a measure of addressing Jamaica’s social and economic challenges. JEEP has been proposed by...

KINGSTON — The House of Representatives on Tuesday September 20 passed the Attestation of Instruments (Facilities) (Amendment) Bill to give parish councillors and mayors the powers of Justice of the Peace (JP). Under the Bill, councillors and mayors of municipalities will be able to verify and attest documents for the period they hold office. Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck,...

KINGSTON — Cabinet has given final approval of the Corporate Governance Framework for Public Bodies, which it approved in principle in February of this year. Making the announcement Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, at today's (Sept. 14) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, said the document includes provisions in relation to the reporting...

KINGSTON — Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, has said that it is a misunderstanding to suggest that the Government is in a crisis and the medium term programme is in trouble, because of the tabling of the First Supplementary Estimates four months after the 2011/12 Budget. "The immediate issue that informed the Supplementary Estimates, was the need to make...

KINGSTON — The House of Representatives passed the First Supplementary Estimates 2011/12 shortly after 11 pm Thursday September 8, after ending a stalemate between Government and Opposition members of the Public Administrations and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) over the wording of its report. The protracted delay was ended late Thursday afternoon, after the Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding, intervened. He...

KINGSTON — The Senate has passed the Bill amending The Travel Agency Regulation Act, which will impose harsher penalties on travel agencies operating illegally in Jamaica. Minister of National Security and Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Hon Dwight Nelson, in piloting the Bill on Thursday (July 28), noted that the amendments reflected changes in the travel service since...

KINGSTON — A Bill amending the controversial Interception of Communications Act was passed in the Senate on Thursday (July 28). Minister of National Security and Leader of Government Business, Senator Dwight Nelson, who piloted the Bill, noted that the amendment addressed the absence of extraterritorial application of the Act to facilitate the sharing of information with a foreign state, or...

KINGSTON — A Resolution seeking extension of the duration of the Constabulary Force (Interim Provisions for Arrest and Detention) Act, was passed in the House of Representatives on July 19. The Constabulary Force (Interim Provisions for Arrest and Detention) Act, which came into effect on July 23, 2010, is scheduled to come to an end on July 23, 2011. This...