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The House of Representatives has approved amendments to the National Insurance Act, to support the Government's efforts to improve administration of the National Insurance Fund (NIF) and ensure its sustainability. The Bill seeks to validate and confirm increases in benefits which came into effect last year, and increase contributions payable by various categories of persons, to sustain the increase in...

The National Health Fund (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to confer on the Fund responsibility for procurement, warehousing and distribution of pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies for Government’s health facilities, was passed at Friday’s (February 18) sitting of the Senate. Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon Dorothy Lightbourne, piloted the measure through the Upper House as Leader of...

Cabinet has approved adoption of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) budgeting approach, for Central Government’s annual budget preparation process. According to a Ministry Paper issued by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and tabled at Tuesday’s (February 15) sitting of Parliament, the MTEF will introduce three-year rolling fiscal and budgeting frameworks, as the context within which annual budgets...

Bills postponing Local Government Elections until March, 2012, were passed during Tuesday’s (February 15) sitting of the House of Representatives at Gordon House. The Bills - “An Act to postpone the holding of a General Election under the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation Act” and “An Act to Postpone the Holding of a General Election under the Parish Councils Act”...

The House of Representatives unanimously approved the report of a committee which reviewed the Standing Orders governing its operations, on Wednesday February 9. The report, tabled by Standing Orders Committee Chairman and North East St. Catherine Member of Parliament, Gregory Mair, led to a debate involving members from both sides of the House. Outlining recommendations made by the committee, Mr....

The Senate on Friday February 11 delayed the passage of the Attestation of Instruments (Facilities) (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to give Parish Councillors and Mayors the powers of a Justice of the Peace. While agreeing in principle with the proposed legislation, Senators were concerned about the lack of clarity in how the Mayors and Councillors would carry out these functions....

A Bill to amend  the Health and Allied Professions and Services (Miscellaneous Penalty Provisions) Act, 2011, was tabled in the Senate on  February 4, by Deputy Leader of Government Business, Senator the Hon. Dwight Nelson. The Bill, which seeks to provide for an increase in fines for persons who provide medical and support services without proper registration, was passed with...

XSOMO International Limited has been awarded a US$400,000 contract to supply and implement an Electronic Document Management and Imaging Solution, to support the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service in digital capturing and instantaneous access to official documents created daily. Speaking at a Post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, on Wednesday (February 2), Minister with responsibility for Information,...

The ceilings for the Medium Term Expenditure, and the macro-economic parameters for the 2011/2012 financial year, have been approved by Cabinet. Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz made the announcement at Wednesday's (February 2) post-Cabinet press briefing, at Jamaica House. The Minister  said Cabinet also approved the issuing of the budget call, based on...

Cabinet has given approval for an increase in trade mark fees under the Trade Marks Rules 2001. Speaking at Wednesdays' February 2 post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz said there has not been an increase in trade mark fees since September 2001, and that the fees charged in...

The House of Representatives, in addition to it's regular Tuesday Sittings, will be meeting on Wednesdays up to the middle of March. The meetings on Wednesdays will deal with various issues of national importance that were put forward in the Parliament by Government Backbenchers and Oppositions MPs, through private member’s motions.  Last Wednesday the House debated a motion brought by...

A Private Member's motion, seeking the establishment of proper family values and the protection of the nation's children, has been referred to a Joint Select Committee of the House of Representatives for further debate. Minister of Education and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Andrew Holness, while contributing to the motion in Gordon House on Wednesday January 27, said it was...