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A motion calling for the enactment of legislation to criminalise squatting was tabled in the Senate on November 12 by Government Senator, Dennis Meadows. The motion also recommended that the government pursue, in addition to current policies, aggressive and progressive housing and social policies aimed at facilitating affordable housing solutions for its citizenry. "The pervasive problem of squatting has reached...

Members of the House of Representatives, on November 9, paid tribute to the late former University of the West Indies (UWI) Professor Emeritus, Alston Barrington 'Barry' Chevannes, who died on November 5. Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia Grange hailed him as an exceptional Jamaican and one of the nation's "outstanding sons of culture and heritage". Miss Grange...

The Senate has approved an amendment to the Criminal Justice (Plea Negotiations and Agreement) Amendment Act, removing sentencing restrictions on judges involved in plea bargaining cases. The amendment removes the mandatory minimum penalty which has to be observed by the judges in plea bargaining cases under the Act. It was passed Friday (November 5) in the Senate. Attorney General and...

The House of Representatives has accepted the report of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) on Political Party Registration and Financing. The concluding debate on Tuesday (November 2) saw varying opinions from both sides of the House, with Minister of State for Water and Housing, Hon Everald Warmington, opposing public financing for the political parties. "We cannot expect a poor...

The House of Representatives has passed legislation to effect reforms, which will protect the country's clearing and settlement systems from disruptions that could lead to instability in the financial sector, causing loss of confidence in the public payment regime. These reforms are being carried out with the internationally accepted standards and practices to ensure its safety and efficiency. Piloting the...

Members of the House of Representatives, on October 26, paid tribute to the late Prime Minister of Barbados, David Thompson, who died early Saturday morning (October 23), at the age of 48. Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding said Mr. Thompson had brought a sharp, incisive perspective to the discussions of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Mr. Golding noted that Mr....

The Government is taking steps to remove flogging as a means of punishment from the country's laws. Member of Parliament for North East St. Catherine, Gregory Mair, tabled a bill to Repeal the Flogging Regulations Act during the sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday (October 19). According to the memorandum of objects and reasons, which append the bill,...

The National Library of Jamaica Act 2010, which seeks to create the legislative framework for the establishment of a fully autonomous national library, was tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (October 20). While there is an existing national library, it is felt that the entity has been unable to function with full autonomy as it has operated under...

Cabinet has approved additional expenditure of $6.9 billion (US$80 million) up to the end of the fiscal year, to address the damage wreaked across various sectors from rains associated with Tropical Storm Nicole. Back from his 'road trip' to the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, as well as a tour of...

Members of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament carrying out a review of the operations of the Access to Information (ATI) Act are currently in the process of finalising its report for tabling in Parliament. Committee members aimed to wrap up a review of their draft report yesterday (October 14), but were not able to get through all the recommendations...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon Pearnel Charles, has commissioned a study to determine a minimum livable wage for Jamaican workers, to guide future adjustments in the National Minimum Wage (NMW). Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon Pearnel Charles. Mr. Charles has also announced plans to seek to have a Joint Industrial Council (JIC) re-established for private security...

Cabinet has given approval for the proceeds of the lease of the Hounslow packing house in St. Elizabeth to be used to repay a bank loan that had been taken out to improve the facility. This was disclosed at the Post Cabinet Press Briefing on Wednesday (October 6) at Jamaica House, by Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special...