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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...

KINGSTON — The Government is to engage unions representing public sector workers in discussion regarding staffing costs over the medium-term. This was disclosed by Minister with Responsibility for the Public Service, Senator Arthur Williams, during a statement on July 15, 2011 in the Upper House. Senator Williams informed that a critical component of the Stand by Agreement with the International...

KINGSTON — Member of Parliament for South West St. Catherine, Everald Warmington, on July 13, 2011 tabled a motion in the House of Representatives calling for debate on the recommendations contained in the Public Sector Rationalisation Plan. The motion also urged that no section of the plan should be gazetted until a debate is had in Parliament. The Public Sector...

KINGSTON — The House of Representatives on Wednesday July 13, 2011 approved a government guarantee for a US$37 million loan to the Central Wastewater Treatment Company. The loan, from National Commercial Bank (NCB) Capital Markets Limited, is to refinance an existing loan facility with the NCB for the construction of the Soapberry wastewater treatment plant in St. Catherine. Minister of...

KINGSTON — A Bill to amend the Interception of Communications Act was passed in the House of Representatives on Wednesday July 13, 2011. Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, who piloted the Bill, explained that a decision was taken to amend the Act to address the absence of extraterritorial communication, to facilitate the sharing of information with a foreign state...

KINGSTON — Custodes will soon operate under a more formal, standardised structure, with the passage of the Custos Rotulorum Act, 2011 on July 12, 2011 in the House of Representatives. The legislation, which makes provision for the appointment, tenure, functions, allowances and administrative arrangements for the office of custos, seeks to preserve the integrity, status, and relevance of the office....