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The Cabinet goes into retreat today(Friday/Feb 20) as it continues the process of preparing the 2009/2010 budget. The three-day retreat will continue next week Saturday, Feburary 28, and will be completed on Sunday, March 1. Today's opening session will focus on issues related to the economy, the impact of the global environment on Jamaica and the 2009-2010 fiscalprogramme. On February...

Parliament resumed discussions on flexible working time in Jamaica, when a Joint Select Committee(JSC), chaired by Minister of Labour and Social Security, the Hon. Pearnel Charles, had its first meeting at Gordon House, today. "It is apparent that because of what is happening globally now, the international financial and economic crisis, the whole question of flexi work time at the...

His Majesty, King Juan Carlos I, of Spain, has said that since the end of the 1990s, the Spanish private sector has spearheaded an impressive investment process on the island, resulting in Spain being one of the leading foreign investors in Jamaica. "The high level planned investments will not only contribute to modernising and energising the Jamaican economy, particularly its...

Thank you all for the great honour and kindness you have shown by inviting me to address the representatives of the people in a joint session of the two Houses of the Jamaican Parliament, on the occasion of the first State Visit to this beautiful country by the Queen and myself. I should like to begin my address by paying...

Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, has said that a Joint Select Committee of Parliament will meet shortly to commence an analysis of the Corruption Prevention (Special Prosecutor) Act. "The Corruption Prevention (Special Prosecutor) Act, was tabled last year and referred to a Joint Select Committee to consider and report on its findings. The Committee met several...

His Majesty, King Juan Carlos 1, of Spain, will address a Joint Sitting of the Houses of Parliament, today (February 17), at 3:10 p.m., after arriving at the Norman Manley International Airport at 2:00 p.m., for a two-day State visit. On arrival at the airport, The King and Queen Sofia will be met by Their Excellencies, the Most Hon. Professor...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, has called for a set of recommendations on the action and the direction to be taken to clean up the music that is broadcast or projected in public spaces and through the electronic media. Minister of Culture, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange and Education Minister, Andrew Holness, have been asked to collaborate and prepare for Cabinet review, the...

Cabinet has declined an application from Jamaica Hi-Tech Farms Limited (JHTF) for a new five year lease for the Spring Plain/St. Jago property in Clarendon, and instead, to re-possess, and re-advertise the land for divestment. The move is at the recommendation of the Board of the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ). According to a brief provided by Information, Culture, Youth,...

Member of Parliament for South Western St. Ann, Ernest Smith, has expressed the view that the proposed Sexual Offences Act should focus on protecting minors. "Most of the victims of the vicious, violent behaviour are in fact little boys and girls, months old, up to the age of say ten. There are thousands of cases out there which have never...

Member of Parliament for Eastern Portland, Dr. Donald Rhodd, has suggested a mandatory rehabilitative programme for certain categories of sex offenders. These include persons who commit sexual assaults, attempted rape, assault with intent to rape, and child sex offences, such as maintaining sexual relationships with a child and incest. Dr. Rhodd made the recommendation during his contribution to the debate...

Minister of Energy, Clive Mullings, has lauded the aspect of the Sexual Offences Act, which provides that the sexual history of a complainant in a rape lawsuit, should not take prominence in court. Mr. Mullings, who was making his contribution to the debate on the legislation in the House of Representatives yesterday (Feb. 10), said that there have been cases...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has assured the House of Representatives that stability will return to the foreign exchange market, soon. Mr. Golding said that the Ministry of Finance and Planning and the Bank of Jamaica(BoJ), were doing everything possible to speed up the process. He gave the assurance during the monthly Prime Minister's Question Time, a new feature of Parliament...