Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694258769699.pdf (Jamaica)
QUESTION NOTICE PAPER OF THE HONOURABLE JAMAICA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014 NOTICE GIVEN ON TUESDAY, 21ST JANUARY, 2014 9.

* Dr. Wheatley to ask the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining on the 11th day of February, 2014: 1.
Is the Minister aware that, under the Urban Renewal (Tax Relief) Act (hereinafter referred to as “the Act), the largest telecommunications provider in Jamaica, Digicel, is an approved developer, pursuant to which the company constructed its corporate headquarters in Downtown Kingston, Jamaica?

Is the Minister aware that the company obtained certain incentives, including tax relief, 2. under the programme?

3.
3.

Is the Minister aware that since the completion of construction and occupation of the building the company has been relocating a significant number of its executives outside of Jamaica?

Can the Minister indicate to the Honourable House if this is part of the company’s plan to 4. relocate its global headquarters outside of Jamaica?

5.
5.

If the answer to Part 4 is in the affirmative, can the Minister indicate whether the relocation of the global headquarter outside of Jamaica would run counter to the tax incentive scheme granted to the company under the Act?

6.

If the answer to Part 4 is in the affirmative, will the Minister give an indication as to the possible fiscal and operational impact such a move would have on Jamaica and the Government’s fiscal accounts?

7.
7.

If the answer to Part 5 is in the affirmative, will the Minister advise of steps the administration has taken or is contemplating to either avert this course of action all together or to minimise the likely fall-out in the event of any significant scaling down of operations?

Page 2 of 5 13.

* Mr. Hutchinson to ask the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries on the 11th day of February, 2014: 1.

2.

Will the Minister state what are the functions of the Agro Investment Corporation?
Will the Minister state what is the management structure for these farms?

Will the Minister state if there are any plans to construct buildings and, if so, what is the 3. time-frame?

Will the Minister state what is the status of the recovery programme for the farmers at 4.

Plantation Garden River?

5.

Will the Minister state if any consultants or specialists have been hired for these projects?

Will the Minister state if there is any debt relief being considered for the farmers at 6.
Plantation Garden River?

14.

* Dr. Baugh to ask the Minister of Labour and Social Security on the 11th day of February, 2014: 1.

Will the Minister please advise the Honourable House whether the allegations of unfair trade practices in relation to trade with Trinidad and Tobago have been placed on the agenda of the Council for Trade and Economic Development for discussion?

2.
2.

Will the Minister please state what is the effect of the measures recently taken by the Minister of Industry and Commerce to impose a penalty on duties on lubricants imported from Trinidad and Tobago, but which were suspected of having their origin in Venezuela?

3.
Will the Minister please report to the Honourable House on the status of discussions between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago on issues regarding rules of origin of agricultural and agro-processing products and the imposition of non-tariff barriers on Jamaican products entering Trinidad and Tobago, since the Treaty of Chaguaramas makes provisions for negotiations, consultations, mediation, arbitration and other dispute-resolution mechanisms, in the event of disputes between territories, and such action was initiated two to three years ago?
Will the Minister please inform the Honourable House on the status of these discussions 4. and the response from Trinidad and Tobago?

5.
5.

Will the Minister please inform the Honourable House on the operation of the private sector initiatives in relation to these issues, setting up a trade facilitation desk to liaise with trade- related institution and establishing a clearing house between the manufacturers’ associations of these two countries, in cooperation with the Jamaica Trade and Adjustment Team in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade?

6.
6.

Will the Minister please state what are the proposed steps to deal with the dual pricing of energy, as provided by Trinidad and Tobago, alleged to be a mode of subsidy for manufacturing in Trinidad and Tobago, thus creating an unfair advantage within the context of the Common External Tariff, which imposes an obligation on the parties to undertake fair practices in matters of trade?

Page 3 of 5 15.

* Dr. Baugh to ask the Minister of Labour and Social Security on the 11th day of February, 2014: 1.
Will the Minister please inform the Honourable House of the status of the discussions with Trinidad and Tobago, following the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of that country, elucidating the conclusions against the background of the conflicting statements by that country’s Minister of National Security concerning the denial of thirteen Jamaicans on one flight on November 19, 2013?
Will the Minister please state the impact of the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice 2. concerning the rights of persons so treated “to consult with an attorney or consular official of their country and for them to have access to a mechanism to provide effective and accessible appeal to review procedures with adequate safeguards to protect the rights of the persons denied entry”?

3.

4.

Will the Minister please indicate his plan of action regarding Part 2?
Is the Minister aware of recent reports from two different sources: (a) a team of persons from the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies, and (b) radio personality, Mr. Christopher Daley, giving rise to their perception that Jamaicans are targeted for harassment at the Piarco International Airport?

Does the Minister agree that these actions amount to a breach of the protocols and the 5. agreement for Caribbean nationals to be entitled to hassle-free entry to Trinidad and Tobago?
NOTICE GIVEN ON TUESDAY, 28TH JANUARY, 2014 16.

* Mr. Mair to ask the Minister of Education on the 18th day of February, 2014: Would the Minister advise whether or not the Ministry plans to eliminate pit latrines in 1. schools in the constituency of North Eastern St. Catherine?

If the answer is in the affirmative, would the Minister please provide this Honourable 2.

House with a schedule for this initiative?

NOTICE GIVEN ON TUESDAY, 11TH FEBRUARY, 2014 17.


Page 4 of 5 * Mr. McKenzie to ask the Minister of Local Government and Community Development on the 4th day of March, 2014: Is the Minister aware of the re-deployment/re-assignment of Mr. Christopher Powell, who 1. has been serving as Secretary Manager in the Manchester Parish Council?

2.

3.

Will the Minister advise of the reasons that have prompted this re-assignment?

(a) Will the Minister indicate where the officer has been re-deployed?
(b) Can the Minister confirm whether the officer has actually taken up the assignment by assuming duties pursuant to the re-deployment?

In the event the officer has not actually assumed duties, will the Minister advise of any 4. challenges that may be giving rise to such a situation?

18.

* Dr. Wheatley to ask the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining on the 4th day of March, 2014: Will the Minister provide an update on the initiative to incorporate the use of computer 1. tablets in schools?
2.

Is the report from the team comprising representatives of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, the Ministry of Education, E-Learning Jamaica Company Limited available to this Honourable House?

Will the Minister indicate what will be the nominal cost to students under the tablets in 3. schools programme?

Can the Minister advise as to what is the cost of enabling schools to become wireless 4. hot-spots pursuant to the tablets in schools initiative?
Will the Minister outline the procurement procedures that have been employed in 5. acquiring tablets to be used in the pilot phase of the project?

What are the key performance indicators pertaining to the pilot that will inform the full 6. roll-out of the tables in schools programme?

Will the Minister indicate when we will be in a position to access and analyse information 7. gleaned from the pilot phase of the project?

8.
8.

Can the Minister advise when full roll-out of the programme will be brought on stream?

NOTIVE GIVEN ON TUESDAY, 18TH FEBRUARY, 2014 19.

Page 5 of 5 * Mr. McKenzie to ask the Minister of Local Government and Community Development on the 11th day of March, 2014: Would the Minister please state whether or not his Ministry and/or the local authorities are 1. engaged in an audit of street lights islandwide?

2.
2.

If the answer to Part 1 is in the affirmative, would the Minister please state: (a) Who is conducting the audit?

(b) When the audit commenced?

(c) Whether or not the audit has been concluded?

(d) Whether he will provide copies of the audit to the Parliament?

Does the Minister recall that in announcing the increase in property taxes in 2013, the 3.

Government assured the country that funds would be allocated to improve and/or maintain a proper street lighting system across Jamaica?

4.
4.

Does the Minister think that this commitment has been met, and, if not, why not?

5.

Would the Minister give this House a full update on the street lighting situation, and what steps are being taken to ensure that the public gets value for their property tax payments in terms of its expenditure on street lights?

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