Senate to Debate Several Bills

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 World Bank from the payment of Income tax; an Act to Amend the Tax Administration Jamaica Act 2025; and an Act to amend the Public Procurement Act 2025.

Acting Leader of Government Business and Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Aubyn Hill, signified his intention to take charge of the Bills following their introduction. Notice of Second Reading was also given for the Bills.

Acting President, Senator Charles Sinclair, said he is certain there will be robust debate on the Bills at a later date.

Also laid on the table of the Senate were the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year ending March 31, 2026, Jamaica Public Bodies Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year ending March 2026, Government of Jamaica Fiscal Policy Paper for the Financial Year 2025/26, and Tax Expenditure Statement for the period 2021 to 2023.

Additionally, the Jamaica Mortgage Bank Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year ending March 2026; Government of Jamaica Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy for the Financial year 2025/26 to 2028/29; the Public Sector Consolidated Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year ending March 31, 2026, and the Revenue Estimates 2025/26 for the financial year ending March 31, 2026.