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The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Delroy Chuck, has led a small delegation from the Jamaican Parliament on an official four-day visit to Cuba, which began Wednesday (June 23). The delegation was invited by the Cuban Parliament, in order to strengthen ties between both countries. While in Cuba, the delegation will meet with the President of the Cuban...

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 22) passed the six anti-crime Bills, which will aid the Government in its efforts to reduce crime and violence in the country. Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding The Bills are: an Act to amend the Bail Act; an Act to further amend the Firearms Act; an Act to amend the Offences Against...

The Protected Disclosure Bill, which seeks to encourage and facilitate specified disclosures of improper conduct in the public interest, has been sent to a Joint Select Committee of Parliament for consideration. The move was at the request of Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, Senator A.J. Nicholson, who, in a letter on Thursday (June 17), appealed to the Government...

The Senate gave approval on Friday (June 18) to two Bills postponing Local Government Elections to 2011. The elections, which were to be held by June 30 this year, are now scheduled to be held no later than March 30, 2011. Bills amending the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) Act and the Parish Councils Act to allow for the...

Newly-appointed Government Senator, Ian Murray, was sworn in today (June 18), during a sitting of the Upper House. Jamaica House, on June 17, had announced that Mr. Murray was selected by Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of the former Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade,...

Cabinet has approved the provision of an additional US$10 million to boost the Jamaica Tourist Board's (JTB) budget to execute an integrated marketing and sales plan over the next nine months. "The strategy devised by the JTB. will involve an integrated approach of sales, marketing, promotions, events, social media, and an effective public relations programme to add value to the...

The House of Representatives passed two Bills Tuesday (June 15) postponing Local Government elections for at least six months. The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation General Election (Postponement) Act 2010 and the Parish Councils General Election (Postponement) Act, both piloted by Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Hon. Robert Montague,...

Debate on the six crime Bills was postponed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 15) as the Government and the Opposition agreed to hold talks to arrive at a "workable agreement" on the legislation. "I think it is the feeling of the House that this would be the best position. Given the controversial nature of the Bills, this...

The Protected Disclosure Bill, which seeks to encourage and facilitate specified disclosures of improper conduct in the public interest and to protect employees who make the specified disclosures, was tabled in the Senate, today (June 11). The Bill was tabled by Minister of Justice and Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne. According to the Memorandum of...

Member of Parliament for Eastern St. Andrew, Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett, has urged Opposition members of the House to work with the Government, in order to pass the six anti-crime Bills currently before Parliament, aimed at stamping out crime and violence in the society. Addressing the House of Representatives on June 9 in the debate on the Bills, Dr. Bartlett...

Cabinet has approved draft proposals for the introduction of legislation for the suppression and disruption of criminal gangs and their activities. The announcement was made by Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Tuesday (June 9). He noted that the legislation will provide for the issuing...

As the government intensifies efforts to stamp out crime, regulations governing plea bargaining were approved by the House of Representatives yesterday (June 8). The passage of the regulations, as well as amendments to the legal aid regulations, will give teeth to the Criminal Justice (Plea Negotiations and Agreements) Act, which was passed in November 2005, and provide a clear and...