Bill to entrench local government coming soon

JIS:
Local Government Minister, Noel Arscott, has indicated that a Bill to facilitate the entrenchment of the local government structure in Jamaica’s Constitution, is to be tabled in Parliament shortly.

The legislative provision forms a pivotal part of local government reform.

According to Arscott, the justice ministry has completed work on three strategic laws to guide the new system.

He says as soon as the justice ministry receives the comments of the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Legal Reform Unit, the Cabinet will be in a position to issue instructions for the drafting of the new entrenchment law.

Arscott says the new laws will also provide for the establishment of public accounts committees at the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation and the Portmore Municipal Council, which will function like Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.

In the meantime, Arscott says the long-awaited Building Bill has been amended and is now with the Chief Parliamentary Counsel.

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