An allocation of $8.6 million has been earmarked in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before Parliament, to commence development of the institutional and regulatory framework for Jamaica’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT)/Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry. The initiative aims to improve the sector’s competitiveness, and sustained growth. Envisaged targets include: development of a national ICT/BPO Policy; establishing an information...

The Ministry of Finance and Planning will continue implementation of the Caribbean Criminal Asset Recovery Programme (CCARP), for which just over $35 million has been allocated in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House. The programme, which commenced in January 2013, is designed to support strengthening of the Financial Investigations Division (FID) by providing technical assistance to build...

The Government has allocated $370.2 million in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure towards the implementation of the Public Sector Transformation and Modernisation Programme. The Estimates were tabled in the House of Representatives on Thursday, February 19 by Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips. One of the main objectives of the programme include increasing the capacity and...

A Department of School Services (DSS) is slated to be established in the new fiscal year, to coordinate activities and provide a stronger focus on school improvement and accountability. The DSS is aimed at improving the quality of education and output from the system. This was disclosed by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, while delivering the...

Several key pieces of legislation, aimed at enhancing and improving Jamaica’s national security and justice systems, are included on the legislative agenda for the new 2015/16 Parliamentary year. This is outlined in the Throne Speech delivered on Thursday, February 19, at Gordon House, by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen. Notable among the legislation are: the Caribbean...

The Senate, on February 13, passed a Resolution requiring the Supreme Court to make the final determination on which Opposition Senators are duly appointed as members of the Upper House, following the ruling in the case: ‘Williams versus Holness’. The matter has arisen based on last week’s Constitutional Court ruling that the removal of Arthur Williams and Dr. Christopher Tufton...

A Bill to amend the Dangerous Drugs Act, to decriminalize ganja for medicinal, religious, scientific and therapeutic purposes, was passed in the Senate on Friday, February 6, with five amendments. Piloted by Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, the Bill seeks to make the possession of small quantities of ganja, amounting to two ounces or less, a non-arrestable...