Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697796457001.pdf (Jamaica)
QUESTION NOTICE PAPER OF THE HONOURABLE JAMAICA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2012 NOTICE GIVEN ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012 1.

* Mr. Hutchinson to ask the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries on the 14th day of February, 2012: Emphasis had been placed on the production of onion, ginger, pepper and Irish 1. potato by the former Minister.

(a) Will the Minister state if the emphasis will still be placed on these crops?
(b) What other crops does he intend to place emphasis on in the short, medium, and long term to provide food security for Jamaica?

The Production and Marketing Organisations (PMOs) were established to provide 2. accountability and transparency in the distribution of inputs from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).

(a) Will the Minister state if there will be any changes to this system and, if so, what will they be?

3.
3.

Will the Minister state if there will be any changes to “Project Growth”, which was launched by the former Minister of Agriculture last year?

If so, what will be the changes?

2.

* Mr. Hutchinson to ask the Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change on the 14th day of February, 2012: 1.

Approval had been given for the expansion of the Maggoty water system to supply potable water to the districts of While Hill and Carisbrook.
Will the Minister state when will the contract for this project be signed and when will the work start thereafter?

2.

Approval had been given for the development of the New Market Water Scheme, with water being pumped from the well at White Hill to a catchment tank in Kilmarnock.

Will the Minister state what is the status of this project and when will work be done to facilitate the laying of pipes into Kilmarnock?

Page 2 of 3 3.
Page 2 of 3 3.

* Mr. Hutchinson to ask the Prime Minister on the 14th day of February, 2012: The Culture, Health, Art, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund had approved the 1. construction of a new basic school at Middlesex in the constituency of North West St. Elizabeth.

Funding for the school was also approved and the contract put to tender.

Cabinet’s approval is being sought for the construction of the school.

Will the Prime Minister state the status of this project and when will construction start?
* Dr. Baugh to ask the Minister of Health on the 14th day of February, 2012: 4.

1.

The new Government has given mixed signals concerning the re-introduction of user fees for services in hospitals.

Will the Minister state whether in his view user fees in hospitals escalated to health care, created embarrassment to the poor because of increasing debt to hospitals and resulting in the postponement of medical treatment causing time-related increasing complications of chronic diseases?
to being a barrier to access 2.

Will the Minister agree that the removal of user fees by the last administration resulted in greater access to in-patient and out-patient services including surgical operation especially for the poor, and is the Minister therefore committed to the principle of universal access?

The Minister has announced via the media that he will undertake a 3. comprehensive review and reform of the administrative structure of the island’s health services.
Will the Minister take into account reviews already done in a January 2004 consultancy as well as a review undertaken in 2007/2008 by the last administration to reduce the duplications and burden of administrative costs imposed by four regional authorities and parish level administrations?
Would the Minister consider, as an inclusion in the terms of reference, private 4. sector/public sector partnerships designed to prevent exploitation and to improve the access of patients to specialised services and cutting-edge technologies?

5.

* Mr. McKenzie to ask the Minister of Local Government and Community Development on the 14th day of February, 2012: 1.
Is the Minister aware that by letter dated October 10, 2011, an amount of $9,153,100.00 was sent to the Portmore Municipal Council for the reconstruction of damaged drains within the Municipality and that by letter dated November 11, 2011, an amount of $14,211,800.00 was sent to the Portmore Municipal Council for drain cleaning and repairs to collapsed drain walls within the Municipality?
Page 3 of 3 Will the Minister confirm that the October 10, 2011, letter is in respect of work in 2. divisions in the Municipality represented by People’s National Party councillors and that the November 11, 2011, letter refers to six projects, five of which are in divisions represented by Jamaica Labour Party councillors?

3.
3.

Will the Minister confirm that he signed a letter dated January 11, 2012, addressed to the Mayor of Portmore in respect of the work set out in the November 11, 2011, letter instructing that “If funds have not been expended, I am instructing that you cease all disbursement and works until further orders”?

Will the Minister confirm that he did not give the same instructions in relation to 4. the works to be done pursuant to the October 10, 2011 letter?

5.
5.

Will the Minister state on what provision in the Parish Councils Act, the Municipal Act, the Financial Administration and Audit Act, or other legal basis, did he give such instructions and why his letter was copied to the Minister of State only, and not to the accounting or accountable officers in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development or the Portmore Municipal Council?

Will the Minister confirm that his Minister of State is the Member of Parliament for 6.
St. Catherine South Eastern, the constituency in which $11 million of the $14.2 million referred to in the November 11, 2011 letter is to be spent?

Will the Minister confirm that, by law, the Local Government Election is due to be 7. held by March 31, 2012?

PRINTED BY THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, 81 DUKE STREET, KINGSTON