Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694840089082.pdf (Jamaica)
ORDER OF BUSINESS OF THE HONOURABLE JAMAICA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2012 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 21st February, 2012 – Questions No.

7 and 8) (For answer on the 28th February, 2012 – Questions No.
9, 10, 11 and 12) 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 PRIVATE MEMBERS’ MOTIONS Page 2 of 7 NOTICE GIVEN ON TUESDAY, 24TH JANUARY, 2012 1.

Mr. Warmington – To move – [No.
1] WHEREAS sections of South West St, Catherine are subject to constant flooding; AND WHEREAS the main areas affected are Old Harbour Bay, Big Pond, Panton Street, Nightingale Grove and Bushy Park; AND WHEREAS one of the causes of this flooding is the lack of ad equate maintenance and of the drainage system throughout the constituency; AND WHEREAS the natural waterway of the Cobourne Gully is compromised and the size of the outflow is reduced by the construction of Highway 2000, causing severe flooding of a historic nature to Nightingale Grove, Five Acres, Grove Farm and the High House communities; AND WHEREAS the McVickers Gully and Town Gully are similarly compromised and the sizes of the outflows reduced by the construction of Highway 2000, causing severe flooding; AND WHEREAS New Era Homes at its own expense construction an extensive dyke system along the Cobourne Gully from the Old Harbour /Spanish Town main road to the Bushy Park Bridge, which has prevented the constant flooding of the Vineyard communities: BE IT RESOLVED that the Parliament call on this government to take immediate action to complete the dyke started by New Era Homes, from the Bushy Park Bridge to Salt Island Creek, as was intended, so as to relieve the constant flooding and suffering of the people of Bushy Park; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Government move with great urgency to correct and eliminate the flooding that constantly affects Big Pond, Old Harbour Bay and Panton Street; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Government take the necessary actions to have developers of Highway 2000, Bouygues T.P.
rectify the situation created by them that is causing the flooding at Nightingale Grove and surrounding communities.

2.

Mr. Warmington – To move – [No.
2] WHEREAS the road infrastructure in most of the housing schemes in Jamaica are in deplorable conditions; AND WHEREAS these roads continue to deteriorate without any maintenance by Government; AND WHEREAS some of these housing developments are in existence in excess of forty to fifty years; Page 3 of 7 AND WHEREAS successive Governments at the central and local level have refused to assume full responsibility for this infrastructure; AND WHEREAS such action by Government result in severe difficulty and suffering for Jamaicans living in these housing schemes; AND WHEREAS these residents are taxpayers, most of whom are poor, less fortunate Jamaicans: BE IT RESOLVED that Parliament call on the Government to immediately assume full responsibility for all road infrastructure in housing schemes throughout Jamaica, and commence the repairs and rehabilitation needed to bring all these roads to proper and usable condition; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in all future developments, a condition of developmental approval, is that at the time of issuance of the first title to a homeowner, the titles to all road infrastructure and common areas be transferred to the Local Government, Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation, or any other local authority, including, but not limited to, the National Works Agency in order that such entity can exercise the right of ownership, inclusive of maintenance.
3.

Mr. Warmington – To move – [No.
3] WHEREAS section 7(2) of the FIRST SCHEDULE of the Electoral Commission (Interim) Act, 2006, provides for members of the Electoral Commission to be paid emoluments equal to that of a Puisne Judge; AND WHEREAS Parliament amended this provision to provide an emolument for the Chairman of the Commission equal to that of a Senior Puisne Judge; AND WHEREAS the Commissioners have established a most generous pension, gratuities and retirement benefit schemes for themselves, because of section 10(1) of the Electoral Commission (Interim) Act, 2006; AND WHEREAS section 7(2) of the FIRST SCHEDULE of the Electoral Commission (Interim) Act, 2006, was for Commissioners to be employed on a fulltime basis; AND WHEREAS the Commissioners meet only on a part-time basis, averaging four hours per month and when there are no elections or enumeration they do not meet for up to three months; AND WHEREAS the task being performed by the Commissioners can in no way be compared to that being performed by Puisne Judges or Senior Puisne Judges, who have to work long hours doing extensive researches, trials, among other duties; AND WHEREAS those persons who serve on other governmental commissions, e.g., the Police Services Commission, the Public Service Commission, among others, do not receive as generous a package as those serving on the Electoral Commission; AND WHEREAS there are many unfortunate Jamaicans who have to work up to seventy hours a week at minimum wage just to meet the basic needs of their families, while others are living in abject poverty: Page 4 of 7 BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House amend the Electoral Commission (Interim) Act, 2006, by deleting section 10(1) and sections 7(2), 7(3) and 7(4) of the FIRST SCHEDULE of the said Act; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the emolument to be paid to Commissioners be commensurate with the part-time jobs they now perform and in line with that paid to members of other governmental commissions and members serving on government boards; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Wig and Robe Allowance now being paid to the Commissioners be discontinued.
4.

Mr. Warmington – To move – [No.
4] WHEREAS section 14(1) of the Governor-General (Expenditure, Personal Staff, Tax Exemptions and Pension) Act stipulates the pension payable to a retired Governor- General and the First, Second and Third Schedules make provision for additional emoluments and allowances for retired Governors-General and their widows; AND WHERAS Section 14(1)(a) of the Second Schedule of the Pensions (Prime Minister) Act stipulates the allowances payable to a retired Prime Minister and the Second and Third Schedules make provisions for additional emoluments and allowances for retired Prime Ministers and their surviving spouses; AND WHEREAS Section 7(1)(a) of the Retiring Allowances (Legislative Service) Act stipulates the pension payable to retired Legislators: BE IT RESOLVED that the Governor-General (Expenditure, Personal Staff, Tax Exemptions and Pension) Act and the Pensions (Prime Minister) Act be amended to bring their provisions with respect to pensions and allowances in line with the provisions of the Retiring Allowances (Legislative Service) Act; or, in the alternative the Retiring Allowances (Legislative Service) Act be amended to reflect similar allowances and/or benefits as provided for under the Governor-General (Expenditure, Personal Staff, Tax Exemptions and Pension) Act and the Pensions (Prime Minister) Act, as the latter stood before the 2008 amendment.
5.

Mr. Samuda – To move – [No.
6] WHEREAS the North Shore Highway project involving the construction of toll roads from Spanish Town to Ocho Rios had been planned for several years; AND WHEREAS work on this highway commenced prior to 2007 but is not yet completed due to faulty design challenges, which have resulted in millions of US$ of cost overruns and unnecessary delays; AND WHEREAS identify appropriate funding to underwrite the cost of correcting the faults and completing the project; former Administration initiated measures the to Page 5 of 7 AND WHEREAS the completion of this highway would yield positive benefits to the commuting public and lay a solid foundation for economic growth and development along the corridor between Spanish Town and Ocho Rios: BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House call on the Minister of Transport, Works and Housing to give a detailed explanation to this Honourable House, as to the plans being undertaken to have this project completed, and whether or not it is the intention of the Government to pursue the completion of this project in a manner consistent with the plans which were initiated by the former Administration, including the securing of appropriate funding from China.
NOTICE GIVEN ON TUESDAY, 31ST JANUARY, 2012 6.

The House to continue debate on the motion – [No.
7] WHEREAS THE Office of Political Ombudsman, a Commission of Parliament, was established by the Political Ombudsman (Interim) Act; AND WHEREAS from all appearances the original mandate of the Political Ombudsman has been met; AND WHEREAS, in light of budgetary constraint, the issue of value for money is raised, in that, it now cost the Jamaican taxpayers $18.6 million annually to maintain the Political Ombudsman and his office: BE IT RESOLVED that Parliament review and revise the term and objectives of the Office of the Political Ombudsman with a view to determine: (a) Its relevance to the existing political structure; (b) If the expenditure of the office is justified; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in light of the creation and embodiment of the structures of the electoral process in a Commission, the Office of Political Ombudsman be declared redundant.
7.

Mr. Samuda – To move – [No.
8] WHEREAS the highly publicised Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) was announced by the Prime Minister as one which would be formally launched by the Minister of Transport and Works through the tabling of a Ministry Paper in Parliament; AND WHEREAS the Prime Minister is quoted as saying that “every employment programme now is deemed to be JEEP”; AND WHEREAS this Parliament has not yet been given any details as to the exact quantity and source of funding for this programme, nor has there been any report on the outcome of the promised discussion with the Chinese business partners; Page 6 of 7 AND WHEREAS there exists a sense of uncertainty as to the details and modus operandi of the JEEP: BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House call on the Minister of Transport and Works to table in this Honourable House at the earliest date the promised outline and full details for funding of the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme.
NOTICE GIVEN ON TUESDAY, 14TH FEBRUARY, 2012 8.

Mr. Samuda – To move – [No.
9] WHEREAS the Jamaica Urban Transport Corporation (JUTC) continues to experience increasing losses from its operations, which has been accumulating since the inception of the corporation in 1999, and which presently amounts to over $8 billion; AND WHEREAS the cause for this deteriorating situation is rooted in the lack of proper coordination and control of the various elements that comprise the public transportation system which serves as a direct obstacle to the JUTC’s ability to earn sufficient revenue to avert what now threatens the very survival of the corporation; AND WHEREAS the entire urban transport system is in desperate need of immediate action in order to bring relief to the continued drain on the public purse, and remove the present threat to the safety of our commuting public; AND WHEREAS there is need for immediate and decisive action to be taken by the Minister of Transport, Works and Housing in order to prevent further deterioration of the present condition: BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House call on the Minister of Transport, Works and Housing to present to Parliament a comprehensive policy/strategy, incorporating all elements of the sector which is to be pursued by his Ministry to bring financial viability and an early solution to these problems.
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE Page 7 of 7 24.01.2012 Special Select Committee to consider and report on Green Paper No.

1 of 2011 1. titled “Tax Reform for Jamaica”.

2.

Special Select Committee to sit jointly with a similar committee appointed by the Senate to consider and report on Green Paper No.

2 of 2011 titled “Options for Reform of the Public Sector Pension System”.
07.02.2012 Ethics Committee to consider and report on Exemption Motion brought on 3. behalf of the Member of Parliament for St. Catherine, North Eastern.

Standing Orders Committee to consider and report on Private Members’ Motion 4.

No.

5 of 2012 brought by the Member of Parliament for St. Catherine, South Western.

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