Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694870953976.pdf (Jamaica)
ORDER OF BUSINESS OF THE HONOURABLE JAMAICA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021 PRAYERS CALL OF THE ROLL STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS ANNOUNCEMENTS BILLS BROUGHT FROM THE SENATE PETITIONS PAPERS REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES NOTICES OF MOTIONS GIVEN ORALLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS (For answer on the 22nd day of December, 2020 – Question No.
3) MOTIONS THAT MAY BE MADE AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF PUBLIC BUSINESS REQUIRING NOTICE MOTIONS RELATING TO SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE MOTIONS FOR LEAVE TO INTRODUCE BILLS PRESENTATION OF BILLS WITHOUT LEAVE OF THE HOUSE FIRST OBTAINED PUBLIC BUSINESS PRESENTATION OF BILLS WITHOUT LEAVE OF THE HOUSE FIRST OBTAINED Page 2 of 8 Notice given on 12.01.2021.

Notice given on 12.01.2021.

1.


The Minister of Labour and Social Security to move to introduce and have read a first time a Bill shortly entitled “The National Insurance (Validation, Indemnification and Amendment) Act, 2021”.

The Minister of Finance and the Public Service to move to introduce and 2. have read a first time a Bill shortly entitled “The Microcredit Act, 2021”.

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Page 3 of 8 1.
The Minister of Health and Wellness to move that a Bill entitled, “AN ACT to Provide for facilitating the preservation of the health of all persons by, restricting the use of tobacco products and relevant products and the adoption and implementation of tobacco control policies in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which aims to protect the population from the harmful effects of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke; preventing the use of tobacco by children; enhancing public awareness of the hazards related to the use of tobacco products and relevant products in recognition of the fact that consumption of those products adversely impacts the health of individuals; prohibiting and restricting the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products and relevant products; and provide for other related matters” be now read a second time.
Notice given on 08.12.2020.

2.

The House to continue debate on the motion that a Bill entitled “AN ACT to establish an Independent Fiscal Commission to promote sound fiscal policy and fiscal management in an effort to sustain fiscal discipline” be now read a second time.

Notice of second reading given on 12.01.2021.

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ MOTIONS NOTICE GIVEN ON TUESDAY, 27TH OCTOBER, 2020 Page 4 of 8 1.

[No.
[No.

1] Mr Fitz Jackson to move that a Bill shortly entitled “The Banking Services (Amendment) Act, 2020” be now introduced and read a first time.

NOTICE GIVEN ON TUESDAY, 3RD NOVEMBER, 2020 Mr. Hylton – To move – 2.

2] [No.
WHEREAS the current network of drains and gullies existing in the Corporate Area and throughout the country has been in a deplorable condition for several decades, due to the lack of sustained maintenance and repairs over those decades, and was never designed to handle the increased run-off of storm water resulting from increased development of the physical infrastructure, and exacerbated by the frequency of heavy rainfall due to climate change; AND WHEREAS Marcus Garvey Drive and Mandela Highway, the main arterial roads linking the industrial belt with the Port of Kingston through which the island’s major commerce with the rest of the world is conducted, recently experienced severe flooding, leaving commuters stranded for several hours following heavy rainfall in the vicinity of those thoroughfares; AND WHEREAS much of the waste water from industrial activities, as well as from sewer mains, end up in our existing drains and gullies, and which, among other harmful effects, represent a continuing threat to the health of many of our citizens, especially in poorer communities located near to those existing drains and gullies; AND WHEREAS successive budgets have not been able to adequately fund the maintenance and repairs of the existing drain and gully networks: BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House debate this motion with a view to finding creative solutions to the current problems of inadequate design, poor repair and maintenance of the existing networks of drains and gullies throughout the Corporate Area, Montego and other towns; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Honourable House direct the appropriate Committee to examine the current and future development plans of the Government to ensure that full account is taken of the need for adequate drainage systems to be put in place to address the various sources of increased water run-off, effluent and sewage.
NOTICE GIVEN ON TUESDAY, 24TH NOVEMBER, 2020 Dr. Brown Burke – To move – 3.

3] [No.
WHEREAS the lives of most Jamaicans have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through job losses, business closure, income reduction and health challenges; AND WHEREAS the lives of many Jamaicans have also been adversely affected by the recent heavy rains and floods, which have damaged houses, roads and infrastructure, limited transit and access to various communities, and caused severe loss to farmers, livestock owners, and fishers; Page 5 of 8 AND WHEREAS all Jamaicans, not just members and supporters of political parties, should have fair access to jobs and benefits, regardless of political affiliation or non-affiliation or geographical location; AND WHEREAS the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) has announced a number of needed programmes to mitigate these adverse conditions and losses and to assist many sectors of the society, including school children, farmers, fishers, and other vulnerable populations; AND WHEREAS the GOJ, with reduced revenue and increased demands, must ensure fairness and equity in their distribution and avoid speculation of victimisation, discrimination, favouritism, nepotism, cronyism, and any hint at any issues, past and present, which, at various levels, have dogged previous administrations: BE IT RESOLVED that a national oversight committee to monitor the distribution of state resources and benefits in a fair and equitable manner be established to ensure fairness and equity; AND BE IT RESOLVED that said committee pay special attention to the distribution of additional benefits under the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education, which should bear some resemblance to the national poverty map and the Survey of Living Conditions; the fair distribution of tablets to our school children; and enlistment for jobs in the Jamaica Defence Force, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the community health sector, and other government entities, both at the national and local government levels; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in the interest of transparency, this information be made available, at least in summary, on a parish, constituency, divisional and community basis to all elected representatives, and that the names of all beneficiaries, to include recipients of employment, be shared with the Integrity Commission.
NOTICE GIVEN ON DECEMBER 8 2020 Mr. Mikael Phillips – To move – [No.

4.
4] WHEREAS Jamaica attained independence on August 6, 1962, and will, therefore, enter its 60th year as an independent nation in 2021; AND WHEREAS Jamaica’s democratic system of government has withstood the test of time with the holding of thirteen (13) General Elections and the peaceful transfer of power seven (7) times to different political administrations; AND WHEREAS Jamaica the constitutional monarchical system of government in 1962, with the Head of State being Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, represented in Jamaica by the Governor General; retained AND WHEREAS Jamaica’s system of government has been the subject of review by a Constitutional Commission, a Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Reform in 1997, and by several eminent Jamaicans recommended various constitutional amendments, including the adoption of a republican system of government; independently, which have Page 6 of 8 AND WHEREAS credible opinion polls have indicated that a majority of Jamaicans would prefer that Jamaica adopt a republican instead of a monarchical system of government; AND WHEREAS, while there are differing views on some recommended constitutional amendments, both political parties in Parliament have agreed that Jamaica should become a republic within the Commonwealth with a non-executive president as the ceremonial head of state; AND WHEREAS political administrations formed by both political parties in Parliament have committed to the holding of an indicative referendum, a grand referendum or a simple referendum at varying times in relation to this and other matters, but have not done so: BE IT RESOLVED that this Parliament mandate the government to: (a) (b) Take the necessary steps in accordance with the constitution to remove the British Monarch as Jamaica’s Head of State and establish a new Head of State of Jamaica to be known as the President of Jamaica; Appoint a small committee of appropriate professionals to undertake a six- month public education exercise on the desirability of having a republican system of government instead of a monarchical one; and (c) Thereafter hold a national referendum to approve the necessary constitutional changes; AND BE IT RESOLVED that, as a cost-saving measure, the said referendum be conducted at the same time as the Local Government Election which is due on or before February 2022; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Jamaica take these immediate steps to finally repatriate this fundamental symbol of Jamaican sovereignty (the Head of State) to our homeland, Jamaica, land we love, prior to our celebration of 60 years as an independent nation.
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE Page 7 of 8 06.10.2020 1.

Special Select Committee of the House appointed to sit jointly with a similar committee to be appointed by the Senate, to consider and report on the Bill shortly entitled “The Sexual Harassment Act, 2020”.

03.11.2020 2.
03.11.2020 2.

Special Select Committee of the House appointed to sit jointly with a similar committee to be appointed by the Senate, to consider and report on a motion from the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development regarding a review of the administrative arrangements for Portmore.

3.
3.

Special Select Committee of the House appointed to sit jointly with a similar committee to be appointed by the Senate to complete the review of the “Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act, 2017”.

08.12.2020 4.

Special Select Committee of the House appointed to sit jointly with a similar committee to be appointed by the Senate to consider the COVID-19 pandemic and related matters.

15.12.2020 5.
15.12.2020 5.

Special Select Committee of the House appointed to sit jointly with a similar committee to be appointed by the Senate to consider and report on the Bill shortly entitled “The National Identification and Registration Act, 2020”.

12.01.2021 6.

Special Select Committee of the House appointed to sit jointly with a similar committee to be appointed by the Senate to complete the statutory review of “The Cybercrimes Act”.

7.
7.

Special Select Committee of the House appointed to sit jointly with a similar committee to be appointed by the Senate to consider and report on the Bill shortly entitled “The Customs Act, 2020”.

PRINTED BY THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, GORDON HOUSE, 81 DUKE STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA, W.I.

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