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MANDEVILLE — The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has opened a regional office in Mandeville, to serve Manchester, Clarendon, St. Elizabeth, Trelawny (south) and St. Ann (south). Speaking at the opening ceremony of the office located at the Caledonia Mall on June 2, INDECOM Commissioner, Terrence Williams, noted that it is staffed by investigators who reside in the area. “For...

KINGSTON — Proposal for the enactment of legislation to amend the country’s defamation laws, is now the subject of Cabinet discussions, says Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz. Speaking at post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Mr. Vaz said the proposal was submitted by the Ministry of Justice. “This submission will be considered with...

KINGSTON — The House of Representatives has suspended deliberations on the Corruption Prevention (Special Prosecutor) Act, as Members could not agree on some of the provisions in the Bill, at the sitting on June 1. In leading the discussions, Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, suggested the suspension, and consultation between the leadership of the House on the issues. “I...

KINGSTON — The Government of Jamaica is seeking to amend the financial statutes, to combat unlawful ponzi schemes. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, made the disclosure as he responded to questions from Opposition Spokesperson on Finance, Dr. Peter Phillips, in the House of Representatives on May 31. Mr. Shaw said the amendments will be made...

KINGSTON — The National Disability Bill, with provisions to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities, is to be enacted by next March, says Director of Emergency Disaster Management and Special Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Marion Bullock Ducasse. She was speaking at a training workshop for frontline health workers, at the Medallion Hall Hotel in Kingston on...

KINGSTON — Cabinet has approved drafting instructions to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel for amendments to the Standards Act, the Processed Foods Act and related regulations. Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, made the disclosure on May 12 post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. He informed that proposals are being made to amend the legislation,...

KINGSTON — The House of Representatives approved the expenditures outlined in the 2011/2012 Budget on Tuesday. Closing the debate, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, urged all Jamaicans to maintain a spirit of optimism. “Without a sense of optimism, I could never have held fast to the belief that Jamaicans had a right to single-digit interest...

KINGSTON — The Government is moving to strengthen the Code of Political Conduct and provide stringent civil and criminal sanctions for certain breaches, as it moves to address political garrisons and tribalism. Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, made the disclosure today, during his contribution to the 2011/12 Budget debate in the House of Representatives. The move, he said is...

KINGSTON — A pilot project dubbed, ‘Mobile Money’ that seeks to enhance the operation of the micro-finance sector is to be introduced by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) this year, Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding has announced. Making his contribution to the 2011/12 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives, today, Mr. Golding informed that the DBJ has...

KINGSTON — Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding says Jamaica is now officially out of the recession, with the country registering modest but positive growth in the January to March quarter of this year. Mr. Golding made the announcement during his presentation in the 2011/2012 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives, today. He said a detailed analysis of the...

KINGSTON — Opposition Spokesperson on the Public Service, Natalie Neita-Headley, has called on Government to increase investment in the training of public sector workers, noting that they are key partners in the process of governance. “Public sector workers are the eyes, ears, hands and feet of Government; they are partners with Government,” Mrs. Neita-Headley said on Wednesday (May 4) during...

KINGSTON — Cabinet has approved three contracts for the procurement and distribution of textbooks and workbooks to 815 primary, all-age, primary and junior high schools across the island. Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, made the disclosure at yesterday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. An award of $74 million (£521,600) was made to...