AN ABBREVIATED sitting of the House of Representatives yesterday saw the postponement of the debate on the regulations governing the Toll Authority.
This, as the Parliamentary Opposition requested more time to study the document.
And there was no debate either on the Child Care Protection Act 2003 or the Agricultural Produce Amendment Act 2003 as both were sent to joint select committees for deliberation.
MORE STRINGENT GUIDELINES
A seven-member committee comprising Health Minister John Junor, Dr. Donald Rhodd, Dr. Morais Guy and Sharon Hay-Webster of the governing People's National Party; and Dr. Ken Baugh, Shahine Robinson and Clive Mullings representing the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party, will examine the Child Care bill.
The Child Care Protection Bill, which would allow for the reform of the island's child protection agencies, was tabled in the House on July 29. The legislation to be enacted will effect more stringent guidelines under which persons working in places of safety are recruited and how they operate.
The Government has, in recent times, come under intense criticism from the Opposition and child rights advocate groups which have accused it of dragging its feet in providing the necessary framework for the bill to be enacted.
A six-member committee will deliberate on the Agricultural Produce Amendment Act which seeks to tackle the problem of praedial larceny. Farmers have for years been losing millions to praedial thieves and like the Child Care bill, Government has for years been promising to address the matter. The committee members are: Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke, Errol Ennis, Junior Agriculture Minister, Charles Learmond and Ralston Anson representing the Government; and J.C. Hutchinson and Delroy Chuck representing the Opposition.
Yesterday, Transport and Works Minister Robert Pickersgill gave an overview of the Toll Authority whose members were named last week. He was about to respond to questions posed by JLP member Pearnel Charles when Dr. Peter Phillips, Leader of Government Business, informed the House that the Opposition had requested more time to study the document.
