The House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 11) approved the amendments made by the Senate to the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Bill. The legislation was passed with 13 amendments by members of the Upper House on Friday (July 9). The Bill gives members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica...

The Government is to continue withdrawing $11.4 billion annually from the National Housing Trust (NHT) to support the budget for the next four years. Legislation to effect this was passed in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (June 28). The National Housing Trust (Amendment) (Special Provisions) Bill was piloted by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw....

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says that additional resources will be provided to the security forces for implementation of social intervention programmes as part of efforts to address crime. “The Government will have to provide resources to the police, to the army and to the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA),” he said. “More so, we will...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has hailed former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, for her stellar contribution to politics and to the people of Jamaica. At a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate on June 27 to pay tribute to Mrs. Simpson Miller, who is resigning as Member of Parliament for...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is making the establishment of the National Identification System (NIDS) a priority. He said the system will have a “positive transformational effect” on the country and serve to improve the lives of Jamaicans. “It will support the ease of doing business by impacting positively on security-related programmes, while promoting financial...

The National Identification and Registration Bill was re-tabled in the House of Representatives on June 6. Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, withdrew the original Bill on behalf of Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. “The main considerations were that there were several changes to be made and it was most appropriate that the Bill should be withdrawn and...

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday (May 17), approved the Political Parties Registration Regulations 2017, Resolution. The Regulations, which were drafted by the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) under the Representation of the People Act, provide a framework for the registration and deregistration of political parties, while also facilitating a system whereby an accurate and up-to-date record can be kept...