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Special Representative of the World Bank, Badrul Haque, has noted a rapid decline in national poverty levels in Jamaica, from over 30 per cent in 1989 to below 10 per cent presently, although rural poverty remains high. "More importantly, if you look at the consumption of the poorest 20 per cent and the consumption of the wealthiest 20 per cent,...

Jamaica is likely to have in place legislation to confront commercial sexual exploitation of children soon, following the tabling of the Child Pornography (Prevention) Bill in Parliament, by Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne. The Bill notes that Jamaica currently has no law which specifically treats with or recognises child pornography as a distinct criminal...

The Senate has passed the Factories Amendment Bill, paving the way for the implementation of heavier fines for breaches of provisions of the Factories Act and its Regulations Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne, who piloted the Bill on Friday (July 3), said that investigations by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security have revealed...

A Casino Gaming Commission is to be established under the Casino Gaming Bill, which has been tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw. The Bill states that the Commission will have regulatory functions over the conduct of casino gaming, including the power to grant gaming licences to persons to conduct...

The Sectoral Debate continues next week Tuesday, July 7 and Wednesday, July 8 in the Houses of Parliament. On Tuesday, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton will start the afternoon's Debates and be followed by Opposition Spokesman on National Security, Peter Bunting and then Member of Parliament for St. Mary South Eastern, Tarn Peralto. Opposition member for...

The House of Representatives has approved a resolution cutting the link between salaries paid to high court judges, and those for legal officers in the public service. The approval frees the Government's hand to award increases to the higher judiciary, without the constraint of having to extend similar benefits to its legal officers, thus paving the way for more substantial...

The Water Resources Authority (WRA) is expected to implement some eight projects, costing over $24 million, during the current fiscal year, Minister of Water and Housing, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, has said. Making his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (July 1), Dr. Chang informed that three of these are Capital B projects,...

The Squatter Management Unit in the Ministry of Water and Housing is being strengthened, portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, has announced. In his Sectoral Debate presentation on July 1, in the House of Representatives, Dr. Chang said the Unit is being restructured, pointing out that this will incorporate an increase in the current staff complement of three. The restructuring,...

The Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act is to be amended to enable the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission to regulate the sector more effectively, and protect stakeholders and consumers. A Bill to amend the Act, has been tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw. The Act is also being amended consequent...

The Ministry of Water and Housing will embark on a programme to accelerate the delivery of housing solutions, particularly to lower income level persons, over the next three years, according to portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang. Dr. Chang made the announcement during his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (July 1). He...

As part of efforts to reverse negative productivity trends, the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC) has accelerated its 'Train the Trainer' programme, while continuing to provide technical assistance services to small and medium enterprises. Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Andrew Gallimore, made the announcement yesterday (June 30), in his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral...

The Ministry of Tourism intends to, over the next few months, grow its existing markets and make significant inroads into new destinations, through an aggressive promotion campaign. Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday (June 30), said that the campaign will involve integrated public relations programmes, advertising and sales strategies. "We'll be targeting those markets,...