The Senate passed legislation on March 14 to exempt locally recruited World Bank employees from paying income tax. The legislation, an Act to Amend the Bretton Woods Agreement Act, was piloted by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Leader of Government Business in the Upper House, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, during the Senate’s sitting at Gordon...

Former Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks, was today (March 14) sworn in as a Government Senator in the Upper House. Senator Marks was warmly welcomed by her colleagues after she took the Oath of Allegiance. President of the Senate, Senator the Hon. Tom Tavares-Finson, congratulated Ambassador Marks on her appointment. “You and I have had a long relationship,...

The Senate on Friday (February 28) passed the Counties and Parishes (Amendment) Act, 2025, which seeks to grant parish status to the Portmore City Municipality, making it Jamaica’s 15th parish. The legislation was passed after 10 Government members voted in favour of it, with four Opposition members voting against it, following the call for divide. Four Senators were absent. Piloting...

The Bill to amend the Counties and Parishes Act 2025 to declare the city municipality of Portmore the 15th parish of Jamaica, and for connected matters, was tabled in the Senate on Friday (February 21). Three other Bills were also tabled. They are an Act to amend the Bretton Woods Agreement Act 2025 to exempt locally recruited employees of the...

Three new members were sworn into the Upper House on Thursday (February 13). Senators Dr. Elon Thompson, Marlon Morgan and Delano Seiveright, took the Oath of Allegiance, during a brief sitting of the Senate, which followed the delivery of the Throne Speech to open the 2025/26 Parliamentary Year. After taking the oath, they were welcomed by President of the Senate,...

Government Senator, Kavan Gayle, is calling for safeguards to be established to protect the rights of workers who are engaged in the gig economy. In the gig economy, instead of long-term employment, workers are typically engaged on short-term projects or jobs. Closing the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate recently, Mr. Gayle explained that the gig economy is...

The Administration will continue to implement critical policies that will improve the lives of Jamaicans, says Government Senator, Abka Fitz-Henley. Making his contribution to the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday (January 31), he said the Government, led by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is committed to prioritising the interest of the people...