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As the world continues to grapple with the dangers of global warming and abnormal weather patterns, the Government of Jamaica is committing to placing these issues at the top of its agenda this legislative year. While delivering the Throne Speech in Gordon House today (March 25) to mark the official start of the new Parliamentary year, Governor-General, His Excellency the...

The Government will be intensifying its efforts this year to fight crime and violence with the introduction of new pieces of legislation to strengthen initiatives and place pressure on criminal networks. Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, highlighted this today (March 25) as he delivered the Throne Speech in Gordon House outlining the Government's thrust for the...

After consulting with the schools that may be affected by the opening ceremony of Parliament during the staging of GSAT, and with notice to the Parliamentary Opposition, the police have been advised that there should be no assembly in the immediate environs of the Parliament on Thursday, March 25, 2010. This is being done as the Ministry of Education has...

The Senate yesterday (March 19), passed the Casino Gaming Act and the amended Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act. The Casino Gaming Act seeks to establish a Casino Gaming Commission, which will regulate the conduct of casino gaming, and have powers to grant licences to operators within an approved integrated resort development. The body will also have authority to grant personal...

The Senate passed the Regulations to the Terrorism Prevention Act, setting out the procedures to be followed by entities in their business operations, to ensure against supporting terrorism financing or offences, Friday (March 19). The Act addresses a variety of issues with respect to terrorist financing, ranging from the prohibition of funding terrorist acts, to the monitoring of financial institutions,...

Top Mountain Limited, a community-based income generating enterprise located in St. Catherine, has given residents hope, by using resources that once go to waste as a means of economic empowerment. Established three years ago from a 2001 grant of over $300,000 from the Social and Economic Support Programme (SESP), and a 2007 US$88,000 donation from the Japanese Government, it produces...

Cabinet has approved the implementation of a US$8 passenger aviation service round trip charge for airlines flying to Jamaica. Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday, (March 17), Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, explained that the move will...

Parliament yesterday (March 17) approved the second Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year ending March 31, which were tabled in the House on Tuesday (March 16) by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon Audley Shaw. The Supplementary Estimates were referred to the standing Finance Committee of the whole House of Representatives (all 60 MPs) for deliberation...

The Terrorism Prevention (Reporting Entities) Regulations 2010, which sets out procedures that are to be followed by the relevant bodies in their business operations to ensure that they are not supporting terrorism financing, was approved in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (March 16). Leader of Government Business in the Lower House and Minister of Education Hon. Andrew Holness, noted...

The Registration (Strata Titles) (Amendment) Regulations, which provide the administrative tools for Strata Corporations to administer their duties effectively, was approved in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (March 16). Prime Minister Bruce Golding mentioned that Regulation 11(d) provided for information to be made available to the key players in the strata business, so that nobody would be taken unfair...

The Ministry of Water and Housing was given approval by Cabinet recently for the acquisition of lands to develop housing estates in Trelawny and St. James and to provide security of tenure for the Crescent All Age School in St. Catherine. This was announced by Minister with responsibility for Information, Daryl Vaz, at the post cabinet press briefing at Jamaica...

Amendments to the Financial Administration and Audit Act and the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act were passed in the Senate on Friday (March 12), as part of measures to implement a fiscal responsibility framework in Jamaica. Leader of Government Business and Minister of Justice, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, who piloted both Bills, stated that the fiscal responsibility framework will provide...