THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANS FOR 2022-23

• Economic Growth and Job Creation

The long-awaited gazetting of the Cockpit Country Protected Area boundaries will be brought to Parliament.

Additionally, the Government will promulgate new legislation to enable the creation and regulation of a National Protected Areas.

• National Security

The Government is pressing ahead with the development of several new and revised pieces of legislation, including:

1. Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Bill

2. Corrections Act

3. Enhanced Security Measures Bill

4. Security Personnel Integrity Bill, and 5. National Intelligence and Security Bill

• Education and Youth

Work is advancing on amendments to the Education Act, the Children (Adoption of ) (Amendment) Bill, and the Child Care and Protection (Amendment) Bill.

• Agriculture and Fisheries

1. Repeal of the Plants (Quarantine) Act and enactment of the Plant Health Act.

2. Amendment to the Agricultural Produce Act.

• Industry, Investment and Commerce

1. Amendments to Companies Act to strengthen the disclosure of information relating to the beneficial ownership of companies to counter money laundering and terrorism financing.

2. The Insolvency (Amendment) Bill to allow for the rehabilitation of businesses where possible and the prevention of insolvency.

3. The Dangerous Drugs (Cannabis Import, Export, Transit & Trans-shipment) Regulations to facilitate the growth of the cannabis industry for medical, therapeutic and scientific purposes.

• Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Bail Act is viewed as a critical law in need of reform. New provisions will be enacted relating to the grant or denial of bail.

• Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport

Cabinet has approved amendments to the Domestic Violence Act, and drafting instructions have been issued. The amendments are expected to be passed this legislative year.

• Local Government and Rural Development

Legislative priorities for the coming year include finalising the Human Services Bill, the National Solid Waste (Amendment) Bill, and regulations related to the National Solid Waste Management Authority and the Building (Enforcement of Notices and Orders) Regulations.

• Transport and Mining

The National Minerals Policy will be repositioned and implemented to include establishing the National Minerals Institute and diversification of the minerals portfolio through the exploitation of non-bauxite mineral resources such as limestone and precious stones.

• Health and Wellness

The Government says it will commence the largest healthcare infrastructure development undertaken since Independence.

Jointly funded by the European Union and Inter-American Development Bank, the initiative will see upgrades to 13 health facilities comprising three hospitals and 10 health centres. The Spanish Town, St Ann’s Bay, and May Pen hospitals will be upgraded.

The following health centres will also be upgraded: Greater Portmore, St Jago Park, Old Harbour, St Ann’s Bay, Ocho Rios, Brown’s Town, May Pen East, May Pen West, Mocho, and the Chapelton Community Hospital.

• Finance and the Public Service

The Government will begin implementation of a comprehensive restructuring of public-sector compensation. This will simplify the 325 salary scales and eliminate most of the 185 allowances so that in most cases, compensation will consist of a salary payment only.

The Bank of Jamaica will roll out digital currency in 2022 after a successful pilot last year.