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KINGSTON — A Parliamentary Committee has been set up to review the Government's proposals for tax reform, which are slated to take effect on January 1, 2012. Leader of Government Business in the House, and Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness announced the committee members at yesterday’s sitting of the House of Representatives. Chaired by Finance Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw,...

KINGSTON — Members of the House of Representatives  on July 12, welcomed  new Speaker,  Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, and Deputy Speaker, Tarn Peralto, at their first sitting since the appointment of new Ministers and Ministers of State, by Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding. Mrs. Dalrymple-Philibert, formerly Deputy Speaker, replaces Hon. Delroy Chuck, who has taken up his new post as Minister...

KINGSTON — Five of the new Ministers and Ministers of State were sworn in by the Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, at Kings House on Wednesday June 29. The new Cabinet changes were announced on Tuesday June 28 by Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, and will take effect on Friday, July 1. The Governor-General said that...

The swearing in for the newly announced Ministers and Ministers of State will take place this afternoon June 29 at 3:00 p.m. with the Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen conducting a brief ceremony at Kings House. The changes were announced last night June 28 by Prime Minister Bruce Golding and   will take effect from Friday July 1, 2011. [ New Cabinet...

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding has announced the following changes to the Cabinet: Hon. Christopher Tufton - Minister of Industry, Investment & Commerce Hon. Robert Montaque - Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries Hon. Delroy Chuck - Minister of Justice Mr. Clive Mullings - Minister of Energy & Mining Hon. Arthur Williams - Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office with responsibility for...

KINGSTON — A Bill to give Parish Councillors and Mayors the powers of a Justice of the Peace (JP) was approved by the Senate on June 24. Under theAttestation of Instruments (Facilities) (Amendment) Act, Councillors and Mayors of municipalities will be able to verify and attest documents for the period they hold office. Minister of Justice and Leader of Government...

KINGSTON — A censure motion against Opposition Member of Parliament, Dr. Peter Phillips (East Central St. Andrew), was withdrawn by the Government during Tuesday’s (June 21) sitting of the House of Representatives. The motion was withdrawn by Member of Parliament for North East St. Catherine, Gregory Mair. Mr. Mair’s motion sought to censure Dr. Phillips, the Minister of National Security...

KINGSTON — Senator Desmond McKenzie is urging the Government to fast track legislation dealing with the mandatory evacuation of people from disaster-threatened areas and the establishment of ‘no build’ zones. In a Resolution tabled in the Senate on June 17, Senator McKenzie argued that the government should pass the legislation before the end of the current hurricane season in November....

KINGSTON — Legislation to ensure the establishment of a formal structure to promote and preserve the integrity, status and relevance of the Office of the Custos, was passed by the Senate Friday (June 17). Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, moved the Bill, entitled an Act to establish the Office of the Custos Rotulorum. She explained that...

KINGSTON — The Government is to hire an independent consultant, who will provide oversight for payments made under the Jamaica Infrastructure Development Programme (JDIP). Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday June 14, Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding, said the decision was taken after meetings with representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Works, as well as the National...

KINGSTON — The Report of the Commission of Enquiry into the extradition of Christopher "Dudus" Coke was tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday June 14 by Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding. It contains four main recommendations to the Government, including that the portfolios of Minister of Justice and Attorney General be separated. “We have considered the quality...

KINGSTON — Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding, has tabled a Bill to amend the Interception of Communications Act, in the House of Representatives. A decision was taken to amend the Act to provide that a warrant, under Section 4, may authorise that intercepted communications be disclosed to a foreign government, or agency of such government. The Bill, however, noted...