New Anti-doping Bill tabled in Senate

BY BALFORD HENRY Observer senior reporter balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, December 15, 2014    

THE new Anti-doping In Sport Bill was tabled in the Senate last week,with the debate expected to take place this week when the Senate meets again at Gordon House.

The Bill signifies Jamaica’s commitment to the worldwide fight against doping in sports, by adopting the World Anti-doping Code, the document which guides the harmonisation of anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sports organisations around the world.

The newly revised code was approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Johannesburg, South Africa, in November 2013. It will come into effect on January 1, 2015, by which time all participating countries, including Jamaica, should have adopted the provisions by repealing their current anti-doping legislation.

Minister with responsibility for sports, Natalie Neita Headley reminded the House, during the brief debate on the Bill Tuesday, that widespread concerns about a number of adverse analytical findings involving Jamaican athletes last year had renewed focus on the Jamaica Anti-doping Commission (JADCO).

She said this led to the decision to review the Jamaican legislation, and WADA, the world body, was invited to send a team to review the operations of JADCO.

“Following this, we decided to conduct a review of the 2008 Anti Doping Act in order to clarify the roles, responsibilities and functions of the commissioners of JADCO management team,” she told the House.

In the meantime, Jamaica learnt that a new WADA code would come into effect on January 1, 2015, and the review of Act became a timely process to bring Jamaica’s legislation in line with the new WADA code.

She said that the Bill will repeal the Anti-doping in Sports Act of 2008 and introduce new legislation compliant with the new Code. She said that it also clarifies the role of

the commissioners and JADCO’s management team in terms of their duties, responsibilities and functions.

Opposition spokesperson on Sports, Olivia “Babsy” Grange, reminded the House that she was the minister when the current Act was drafted and approved.

She said that the Opposition fully supported passage of the new Bill passed in time to meet the WADA deadline, hence the need to have it passed before Parliament’s Christmas break.

Grange said that the need for global cooperation in the fight against doping in sports is necessary, as the records show spurts in the number of athletes testing positive at international events, like the Summer Olympics, from time to time.

She also welcomed the changes included in the new Bill in terms of the conditions for appointment to the commission to avoid conflicting interests, and the establishment of JADCO as a body corporate with policy guidance and strategic direction from the board.

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New Anti-doping Bill tabled in Senate

CARICOM Free Movement Bill tabled

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A Bill to amend the Caribbean Community (Free Movement of Skilled Persons) Act, to broaden the categories of skilled nationals able to access jobs in regional countries has been tabled in the House of Representatives, by Minister of Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier.

The Bill provides for the introduction of a single certificate system, and it also seeks to implement fees to provide financing for administrative services for the processing and issue of qualifying certificates as well as increase penalties to deter non-compliance with the Act.The Bill’s “Memorandum of Objects and Reasons” explains that the Caribbean Community (Free Movement of Skilled Persons) Act established the legislative framework for the phased implementation of Jamaica’s Treaty obligations under Articles 45 and 46 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, establishing the Caribbean Community, which was signed in the Bahamas on July 5, 2001.The revised Treaty was itself implemented into domestic law by the Caribbean Community Act, and Article 45 of the Revised Treaty commits member states to the goal of the free movement of nationals within the community.Articles 46 of the Revised Treaty obliges Jamaica and other member states to accord categories of community nationals the right to seek employment in their respective jurisdictions, and to establish appropriate legislative, administrative and procedural arrangements to facilitate movement of nationals into and within member state jurisdictions.The Free Movement of Skilled Persons arises from an agreed CARICOM policy that was originally separate but related to the original Protocol II of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.The agreed policy, called The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Free Movement of Persons Act, is now enacted legislation in all the CSME Member States. It provides for the free movement of certain categories of skilled labour. Under this legislation, persons within these categories can qualify for Skills Certificates (which allow for the free movement across the region).Eight categories of CARICOM nationals have been eligible for free movement throughout the CSME, without the need for work permits. They are: University Graduates, Media Workers, Artistes, Musicians, Sportspersons, Managers, Technical and Supervisory Staff attached to a company and Self-Employed Persons/Service Providers.In addition the spouses and immediate dependent family members of these nationals will also be exempt from work permit requirements. At the July 2006 CARICOM Summit, it was agreed to allow for free movement of two more categories of skilled persons; tertiary-trained Teachers and Nurses.It was also agreed that higglers, artisans, domestic workers and hospitality workers are to be added to the categories of labour allowed free movement at a later date, pending the agreement of an appropriate certification.– Balford HenryLike our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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CARICOM Free Movement Bill tabled