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The House of Representatives began debating changes to the Holiday with Pay Act Tuesday (July 28), to increase fines for breaches by employers and allowing the Resident Magistrate's (RM) Courts to hear the cases. Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, pointed out that it is imperative that workers are given adequate time for rest and rejuvenation during...

One week after completing debate on the landmark Sexual Offences Bill, the Senate is scheduled to start debate on another very important piece of social legislation, the Child Pornography (Prevention) Bill, when it meets today (Friday, July 24). The Bill, which was tabled by Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne, confronts the commercial sexual exploitation...

Cabinet has approved drafting instructions for the legal establishment of the Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC). This was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness, during his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 21). Mr. Holness informed that a structure for the JTC has been agreed on, while job descriptions for...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Energy and Mining, Hon. Laurence Broderick, has said that the Ministry is working to promote synergies among the various segments of the minerals industry. Making his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 21), Mr. Broderick said this is necessary to build a strong, integrated and...

The Ministry of Energy and Mining is proposing the creation of a comprehensive township development plan, incorporating the use of rehabilitated mined-out bauxite lands. State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Laurence Broderick, in his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Tuesday (July 21), said that the move would help to address the demand for housing solutions, especially...

The landmark Sexual Offences Bill, which reforms and amalgamates various laws relating to rape, incest and other sexual offences, was finally passed by the Senate on Friday (July 17). The Bill will repeal the Incest (Punishment) Act, as well as several provisions of the Offences Against the Person Act. It also provides for the establishment of a Sex Offenders Registry,...

The Senate welcomed former Resident Magistrate, Marlene Malahoo Forte, as its newest member, after she was sworn in at Gordon House on Friday (July 17). President of the Senate, the Hon. Oswald Harding, joined the members in welcoming Mrs. Malahoo Forte, adding that he looked forward to her contributions to the debates. Opposition member, Senator K.D. Knight, said he believes...

Debate on the Sexual Offences Bill will resume on Friday (July 17), when the Senate reconvenes at Gordon House, Duke Street, Kingston. The debate should have continued last Friday (July 10), but was deferred to allow members time to study proposed amendments to the Bill, which arrived late for that sitting. The amendments deal with, among other things: sexual violations...

Members of the Senate, on Friday (July 10), debated and passed a Bill entitled the Trade (Amendment) Act, 2009, which seeks to increase penalties applicable to breaches of the Trade Act. The Trade Act provides for, among other things, the regulation of trade in goods, including the conditions of distribution, purchase and sale; and the importation and exportation, except under...

The Bureau of Standards of Jamaica (BSJ) has teamed with the Jamaica Institution of Engineers (JIE), to provide technical support in facilitating the development of a national building code. "This is necessary in order to regulate and control the design, construction, quality of materials and maintenance of our buildings, to ensure that any threat to life, health and welfare of...

Some 40 new greenhouses, which will be leased to small farmers, are to be established this year, through a project between the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Government of Jamaica. Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, making the announcement during his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 7, said...

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,...