POST CABINET REPORT For Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Below are the decisions from Cabinet:
1. Establishment of Multi Sectoral Body for the final report of a Study on Children Living/Working on the Streets of Jamaica
Cabinet gave approval for the public release of the findings of the final report of a Study on Children Living/Working on the Streets of Jamaica. Cabinet also approved the establishment of a multi sectoral body, the Street and Working Children Taskforce, to review and finalise a Street and Working Children Framework of Action. The multi sectoral body will oversee the implementation of the framework of action in a bid to cauterise and significantly reduce the prevalence of children living and working on the streets in Jamaica. Children working on the streets is indicative of a lifestyle of significant risk. The last survey on this vulnerable population was undertaken at a time that predated the passage of the Child Care and Protection Act in 2004. The purpose of the study is to determine factors that serve to predispose children to be living and working on the streets (inclusive of trafficking victims that may be invisible) and to identify gaps in the provision of care and social protection services that could impede an effective response to addressing the street children. The Child Protection and Family Service Agency (CPFSA) and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, will use the results and recommendations from the study, to inform policies and programming interventions relating to street children in Jamaica. The report was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.
2. Disposal of properties owned by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica
Cabinet gave approval for the properties owned by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) to be disposed of and or divested. This activity is in keeping with the Policy Framework and Procedures Manual for the Divestment of Government Owned lands. The decision will see PCJ properties in Font Hill, St. Elizabeth transferred directly to the Urban Development Corporation for its use. The PCJ property located at 36 Trafalgar Road in Kingston will be rented at rates to be negotiated in the short term. These activities are in line with a Cabinet decision in August 2019, where it was agreed that the core functions of the PCJ be integrated into the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology. The ongoing winding up of the operations of the PCJ is consistent with the effort of the Government to rationalise public-sector bodies.
3. Proposal for Winding up of the Jamaica Marketing Company Limited (JAMCO)
Cabinet gave approval for the winding up of the Jamaica Marketing Company Limited (JAMCO) and for the entity to be struck from the records of the Companies House in London, United Kingdom. JAMCO was incorporated in the UK in 1970 as a limited liability company in response to the crisis in the marketing of Jamaica bananas in the UK. This was brought on by the unilateral termination of Ffyes Group Limited contract with the Banana Board to market Jamaica bananas. With the resolution of trade disputes between the United States and the European Union in 2002, JAMCO’s lobbying efforts were significantly reduced. An objective strategic review of JAMCO’S role and future was conducted and it was decided that the company should me made dormant to make more targeted use of limited resources.
4. Request for approval of the settlement and financial support to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) for claim arising out of a fire at the Riverton Disposal Site on February 12, 2012
Cabinet gave approval for the settlement and financial support of claims in the amount of four million, five-hundred and fifty-seven thousand, four hundred and thirty-seven dollars and forty-four cents ($4,557,437.44) to be made to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) arising from a fire at the Riverton Disposal Site on February 5, 2012. The fire lasted several days and the smoke abatement process lasted approximately 17 days. Thick, persistent smoke and resultant toxic fumes blanketed entire communities in the parishes of St. Catherine, St. Andrew and Kingston and produced a nuisance to several communities. The claimants sustained personal injuries, loss, damage ad incurred expenses and took legal action, the result of which found that the NSWMA had breached its obligations under the NSWMA act 2001 by failing to take the necessary steps for the effective management of solid waste at Riverton Disposal site in order to safeguard public health.
5. Request for approval of the settlement and financial support to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) for claim arising out of fires at the Riverton Disposal Site on February 6, 2012 and March 7, 2015.
Cabinet gave approval for the settlement and financial support of claims in the amount of twenty million four hundred and eleven thousand one hundred and fifty-six dollars and ninety-four cents ($20,411,156.94) arising from a fire at Riverton Disposal Site on February 6, 2012 and March 7, 2015. On February 7, 2019 the claimants filed a claim through their attorneys alleging that on or around March 7 2015 a fire was ignited at Riverton consuming much of the facility and continued until on or around March 29, 2015 and produced a nuisance to several communities. The claimants sustained personal injuries, loss, damage ad incurred expenses and took legal action.
6. Reports
Cabinet received and approved the following annual reports and/or financial statements to be tabled in Parliament:
- Jamaica Fire Brigade 2016/2017
- Jamaica Railway Corporation (JRC) for 2017/2018
7. Contracts
- Cabinet gave approval for the award of two contracts to reinforce the existing Government broadband network in support of Covid19 National Emergency Communication Backbone. The contracts were awarded to SynCon Technologies Solutions Limited and Productive Business Solutions Limited in the amount of US five hundred and eighty-nine thousand, seven hundred and eighty-one dollars and fifty-four cents (US$589,781.54) excluding GCT and US nine thousand, four hundred and one dollars and forty-eight cents (US$9,401.48) respectively.
- Cabinet gave approval for the award of a contract for General Insurance coverage and brokerage services for the National Water Commission for the second year May 28, 2021 to May 27, 2022 of a three-year contract to Marathon Insurance brokers as follow:
- placement of US$ denominated policies, US three million one hundred and twenty-one thousand eight hundred and twenty one dollars excluding GCT (US$3,121,821.00)
- placement of J$ denominated policies in the amount of twenty-nine million seven hundred and sixteen thousand nine hundred and thirty-six dollars ($J29,716.936.00 excluding GCT.
- Cabinet gave approval for the award of a contract for the Hounslow Water Supply and Upgrade Project (Extension to Fort Charles) Hopewell Road to Fort Charles Transmission pipeline in St. Elizabeth. The contract is for six hundred and forty-six thousand one hundred dollars ($112,646,100.00) to Geecho Consultants and Construction Limited.
- Cabinet gave approval for the award of a contract for the supply and delivery of seven 2020 model year 20m3 water trucks for US six hundred and twenty-seven thousand one hundred and thirty dollars (US$627,130.00) inclusive of GCT to Tank-Weld Metals Limited.
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Contact:
The Honourable Fayval Williams
Minister of Education, Youth and Information