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Cabinet has approved legislation for the establishment of the Police Authority of Jamaica, which will see the merger of the Police Services Commission and the Police Civilian Oversight Authority. Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said the amalgamation of the two bodies will serve to ensure that the police are efficient, effective and accountable....

The Government has reduced the rate of Special Consumption Tax (SCT) levied on hard liquor imported or taken out of bond by licensed hotels and resort cottages. "It was decided to reduce the rate of $960 of pure alcohol to $450 on spirits other than beers and stouts, wines, liqueurs and cordials imported or taken out of bond by licenced...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Reginald Budhan, says the Government continues to play an active role in protecting consumer rights through the implementation of various rules and regulations. He was speaking at a workshop of the 'Promotion of Consumer Protection Project in the Caribbean' held on December 8 at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel. He noted...

Debate on legislation to limit the time period during which a person may serve as prime minister has been suspended to allow for further consultations. Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, brought the Constitution (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2010 to the House of Representatives yesterday (Dec. 7), which proposes a nine-year term limit for the office of prime minister. He said...

Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, says that the Government is working to provide affordable housing in Trelwany to accommodate migrants to the parish, seeking to benefit from the expansion of the cruise ship pier in Falmouth. "The Housing Agency of Jamaica is working hard to get projects going to facilitate the orderly settlement of people," Mr. Golding said in...

Member of Parliament for North West St. Ann, Othneil Lawrence, has been elected Vice-President of the Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas (COPA) for the Caribbean region. Mr. Lawrence, who was named Jamaica's representative to COPA in 2008, was elected a member of COPA's Executive Committee and Vice-President for the Caribbean, at the 10th General Assembly, November 15 to 19, in...

New Boards have been appointed for the Jamaica Mortgage Bank, the National Water Commission and the Planning Institute of Jamaica, as approved by the Cabinet. Details of the new appointments were given by Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, on December 1. For the Jamaica Mortgage...

Cabinet has approved the principle that Permanent Secretaries are to be designated as Principal Accounting Officers, while Chief Executive Officers of Public Bodies, Executive Agencies and other heads of Departments may be designated as Accounting Officers. Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said that drafting instructions have been given to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel...

The Government has cut the 2010/11 budget by $262 million, but added provisions to meet outstanding payments to public sector workers, repair damage created by Tropical Storm Nicole and purchase 100 new buses for the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA). The First Supplementary Estimates, tabled in the House of Representatives, Tuesday (November 30), by Minister of Finance and the Public Service,...

Cabinet has approved the drafting of legislation for a secured transactions framework. Making the disclosure at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on November 24, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz said that the objective of the new legislative framework is to increase access to finance in Jamaica, particularly for small and medium...

Cabinet has approved a contract, valued at $81 million, to A. G Lowe Architects for the provision of architectural and engineering services for the proposed Ruthven Road Housing Development, to be located at 1-3 Ruthven Road, Kingston 10. This disclosure was made by Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, during a Post-Cabinet press briefing...

The Senate has passed legislation to protect the country's clearing and settlement systems from disruptions that could lead to instability in the financial sector, and create loss of confidence in the public payment regime. The reforms are being carried out under internationally accepted standards and practices, to ensure its safety and efficiency. The Payment Clearing and Settlement Act, 2010 was...