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The State Opening of Parliament will take place on Thursday, March 25, beginning at 11:00 a.m. On that day, Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Sir Patrick Allen will deliver the Throne Speech, in which he will outline the government's programmes and policies for the 2010/11 Fiscal Year, which begins on April 1. Later in the afternoon, Minister of Finance and...

Cabinet recently approved the mandate for the Sugar Company of Jamaica Holdings Limited (SCJH) to conduct negotiations with interested parties who had submitted unsolicited proposals with respect to the divestment of the Frome, Monymusk and Bernard Lodge Sugar estates. A Commission of Enquiry has also been approved which will review the current institutional and regulatory pricing arrangements in the sugar...

Principal Director of the Standards Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of the Cabinet Office, Dwight Uylett, says that the Unit will soon be presenting a National Customer Service Policy to Cabinet, for consideration. The Policy is part of efforts by the Unit, which falls under the Public Sector Modernisation Division, to implement a Customer Service Programme across the public sector. Mr....

The Senate has approved changes to the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes (Amendment) Act, which will allow non-unionised workers access to arbitration at the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT). Only one amendment was made to the Bill, which was passed in the House of Representatives in October, 2009. It was piloted through the Senate on Friday (February 26) by Minister of...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced Tuesday (March 2) that juvenile correctional and remand facilities are to be removed from the Correctional Services and placed under the Child Development Agency (CDA). "The Correctional Services are designed for treating with adult criminal offenders. The objective of their incarceration is both punishment and rehabilitation. We do not consider this to be the correct...

Minister with responsibility for Information, the Hon. Daryl Vaz, says that a full statement will be made to Parliament on Tuesday (March 1) by the Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding, in response to the Armadale report. Mr. Vaz said the Armadale Report was discussed extensively at Monday's Cabinet meeting at Jamaica House. The Report will also be tabled in...

The House of Representatives passed amendments to the Financial Administration and Audit Act and the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act on Tuesday, as part of the Government's fiscal responsibility framework. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, who piloted both Bills, stated that this fiscal responsibility framework will operate as the centrepiece of the reforms being...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced that the Cabinet Submission on enshrining the position of Custos Rotulorum into law has been sent to Cabinet by the Ministry of Justice. The Prime Minister was giving an update to a large gathering of Justices of the Peace (JPs) for Kingston during the swearing in ceremony for the Custos of Kingston, Steadman Fuller, on...

Cabinet has approved the renewal of software update licence and support for the Shipping Service Provider System in the sum of US$645.6 million Minister with Responsibility for Information, Daryl Vaz says this will enable Port Computer Services to continue its technology hosting and operational services for the container terminal and Port authority of Jamaica. Port Computer Services is a subsidiary...

The House of Representatives passed three bills on Tuesday (Feb. 23), in keeping with the government's efforts to step-up the pace of legislation in Parliament. Two of the Acts were directly related to the management of public bodies. The third Act seeks to indemnify the JUTC through its self-insurance scheme. The Act to amend the Public Bodies Management and Accountability...

The House of Representatives on February 24, passed a Bill to amend the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, thereby improving the institutional framework of these bodies. The law makes provision for these societies to be supervised and monitored by the Registrar of Co-operatives, instead of the Companies Office of Jamaica, which now has supervisory responsibility for them. "Under that system,...

Parliament started debating the Casino Gaming Bill and the Betting Gaming and Lotteries (Amendments) Bill on Tuesday (February23) in order to pave the way for Casino Gaming in resort areas. Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, who is piloting both Bills, told the House of Representatives that the debate follows the submission of a final report...