The Senate, on Friday (February 10), approved a Motion that will empower it to continue work on several pieces of legislation during the 2023/24 Parliamentary Year. These include the Trademark Amendment Rules and the Segregated Accounts Companies Act 2023, as well as several Private Members Motions. The Motion will also enable several committees appointed, to continue their deliberations on key...

The Government is being encouraged to expand existing efforts to boost workforce productivity. This, by investing more in and incentivising research and development as well as innovation to this end. Government Senator, Kavan Gayle, made this proposal while making his contribution to the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday (December 9). He suggested several recommendations, which...

Residents of Western Jamaica are being assured of significant improvement in solid waste collection in the region over the Christmas season. Public Cleansing Officer at Western Parks and Market (WPM) Waste Management Limited, Patrick Gilchrist, gave the commitment during the monthly meeting of the St. James Municipal Corporation in Montego Bay on Thursday (Dec.7). Mr. Gilchrist said that the recent...

The Senate, on Thursday (November 17), approved the Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2022, which ensures conformity with international obligations. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, who piloted the legislation in the Upper House, said the Bill is a companion to the recently passed Special Economic Zone Amendment Act. “Both pieces of legislation work...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade will be introducing an online portal for the registration of Jamaican nationals who are travelling overseas for short-term stays. The portal, to be up soon, will establish a database on Jamaicans’ overseas travel and assist in strengthening the country’s capacity for an effective response in emergency situations. Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon....

A two-week gun amnesty will take effect on Saturday, November 5, following the approval of the Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) (Firearms Amnesty) Order 2022 by the Senate, today (November 4). The amnesty is slated to end midnight on Saturday, November 19. The Order, which will facilitate the amnesty, was moved by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic...

Government Senator, Charles Sinclair, is calling for the revision and strengthening of the country’s antiquated public order legislation. “It is my view that over the decades, legislation, particularly those which address public order issues, have not been adequately reviewed, enhanced and enforced. Our public order legislation, for whatever reason, have been left behind and we need to review them, enhance...