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KINGSTON – Debate on the long awaited Charter of Fundamental Rights which began in the Senate on Thursday March 31 is expected to close this afternoon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, who is piloting the legislation, has explained that the Bill will replace Chapter Three of the Jamaican Constitution, noting that it was a “truly a...

KINGSTON – The Government is currently exploring the adoption of a quota system to increase women's level of representation in the Senate, to at least 30 per cent. The proposal is included in the National Policy for Gender Equality, which was recently adopted by the Cabinet, and would be expected to extend to women’s representation in the House of Representatives,...

A Bill seeking to establish a unified domestic tax administration under an entity to be known as Tax Administration Jamaica was approved in the House of Representatives on Tuesday March 29. Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, who piloted the Revenue Administration (Amendment) Act 2011 through the Lower House, informed that this Bill will strengthen the country’s capacity and improve...

KINGSTON – The Senate is slated to meet two days this week to facilitate passage of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (Constitutional Amendments) Act 2011 and conclude other matters on the 2010/11 legislative agenda. The two-day sitting on Thursday March 31 and Friday April 1 was proposed by Leader of Government Business, Senator Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne, following concerns...

KINGSTON – The Senate on  Friday March 25, passed the National Insurance Validation Amendment Bill 2011, during its sitting at Gordon House. Leader of Government Business in the Upper House, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne,  who piloted the Bill, explained that it aims to validate and confirm the payment of certain benefits made in good faith by persons acting on behalf of...

KINGSTON – The Senate has approved amendments to the Terrorism Prevention Act, to allow the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to list persons or entities as terrorists, following the approval of the Supreme Court. The Bill, titled the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2011, was passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday March 22 and in the Senate on Friday...

KINGSTON – The House of Representatives has given the Government approval to withdraw a sum totalling $328.9 million from the Capital Development Fund (CDF) for budgetary support to the Consolidated Fund, for the financial year 2010/11. Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, who moved the Resolution in the Lower House on Tuesday. March 22, informed that the amount to be...

KINGSTON – Parliament passed the long delayed Charter of Rights Bill, which aims to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of Jamaican citizens, at Gordon House on Tuesday March 22. The Bill replaces chapter three of the Jamaican Constitution. It received 51 votes from the Members of Parliament (MPs), including the Speaker, the Hon Delroy Chuck. Eight MPs were absent....

KINGSTON – Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding, says that Parliament will vote next Tuesday March 22 on the long delayed Charter of Rights Bill, which aims to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of Jamaican citizens. The Bill provides for the protection of the rights and freedoms of individuals, subject to such measures as are required for state governance...

KINGSTON – Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Project, Hon. Daryl Vaz, has informed that Cabinet has approved the recommendations of the Sugar Industry Commission of Enquiry. The Commission looked into and reported on the relevance of the current institutional, regulatory and pricing arrangements in the sugar industry. Speaking on March 16 post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House,...

KINGSTON – Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, closed the debate on the Corruption Prevention (Special Prosecutor) Act in the House of Representatives on March 15, which will strengthen the Government’s efforts in the fight against corruption. With some three years since the bill was first tabled in Parliament, the Prime Minister said, “it has been a long journey, perhaps...

KINGSTON – Cabinet has approved two contracts valued at more than $80 million for the provision of maintenance services at Petrojam’s facilities and for the construction of a well under the National Irrigation Development Programme. This was disclosed by Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, yesterday March 16 post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House....