Opposition calls for equal access to education loans

Tuesday, February 03, 2015 | 5:58 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Opposition spokesperson on Education and Youth, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith is calling on Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites to clarify the Government’s position on the treatment of Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) applicants by the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB).

Senator Johnson Smith said, “While we are all aware of the need to reform the funding of tertiary education, as a country we must ensure that there is equity and access for our young people. If the Government, through the Ministry of Education, is mandating limited access to funding for certain disciplines we would be concerned because in a democratic society, the government’s policy should not be to exclude students because of their interests.”

“There is a better way,” she insisted.??According to the Opposition spokesperson on education, the Students’ Loan Bureau should introduce a loan framework which balances national development with freedom of choice. 

“This could be done by introducing different interest rates, bonding arrangements and repayment periods combined in different ways, depending on the course of study to be pursued,” said Senator Johnson Smith.?”Aligning better interest rates, bonding arrangements and repayment periods with areas important for national development would balance choice and market needs, but would not completely exclude young people without interest or ability in STEM areas for example, who need financial support for tertiary education,” she continued.??In a news release on Tuesday, Senator Johnson Smith explained that the Jamaica Labour Party’s policy direction first announced in 2009 was that the SLB should offer incentives to young people to encourage them to take up studies in areas important to national development – and that these would certainly include STEM subjects. The intention however, was not to exclude or bar young people from getting loans to study in areas of interest to them.

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Opposition calls for equal access to education loans

Judges need protection, says Opposition

Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | 2:35 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Opposition spokesman on justice and justice reform, Senator Alexander Williams has expressed shock and amazement at the minister of national security’s announcement of plans to review the assignment of close protection police personnel for the protection of judges.

“There can be no argument that our judges should retain police protection. In deciding on cases, whether civil or criminal, their will oftentimes be disgruntled parties who will harbour resentment that can lead to criminal conduct, and that might well be targeted at the judge”.

“The rhetoric coming from the Government is that they are on a path to improve the administration of justice and to strengthen the justice system. How can that not include protection of the judiciary?

“We, the Opposition, are entirely opposed to any review of close protection for the judges, which is a totally unnecessary exercise. They must have protection,” he said.

He warned the minister of national security that he was travelling down a dangerous road, and said any attempt to weaken the justice system would be met with stiff opposition.

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Judges need protection, says Opposition

Opposition welcomes shift in US foreign policy on Cuba

By Balford Henry

Wednesday, December 17, 2014 | 4:33 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ed Bartlett, this afternoon welcomed announcement of a resumption in diplomatic relations between the governments of the United States and Cuba.

Bartlett, in a release on the development, described it as “an epochal moment in Caribbean political history and diplomatic relations.”

“We are truly delighted as, on both sides of the governmental aisle, we have been united on the principle of the removal of the embargo, which has been seen as unfair and unjust,” he said.

He added that the Opposition also took particular note of US president Barack Obama’s description of the shift in policy, as the “most significant change” in his country’s foreign policy in more than fifty years.

“Jamaica has been at the centre of this matter within the Caribbean, and we note that this has significant implications, as it signals the normalisation of diplomatic relations within the region, as well as the normalization of relations between two of our most important friends and neighbours,” he stated.

In closing, Bartlett said that, given that the USA is Jamaica’s largest trading partner, and Cuba its closest neighbour, there will clearly be new opportunities for discussions on trade and also deeper economic collaboration between Jamaica Cuba and the USA.

“We look forward for discussions on this co-operation particularly in the areas of tourism and the development of our logistics hub capabilities, and we encourage continued steps towards the full removal of the trade embargo which will certainly unlock the gates to free trade among the Americas,” Bartlett told the Observer,

US President Barack Obama announced today that the United States would restore diplomatic relations it severed with Cuba more than 50 years ago.

After 18 months of secret talks facilitated by the Vatican and Canada, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed by phone on Tuesday on a prisoner exchange and the opening of embassies in each other’s countries.

In a television speech on Wednesday, Obama announced the end of what he called a rigid and outdated policy of isolating Cuba that had been ineffective in achieving change on the island.

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Opposition welcomes shift in US foreign policy on Cuba

Health minister"s admission on Chikungunya epidemic is only a first step, says Opposition

Monday, September 29, 2014 | 6:07 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica Labour Party spokesman on Health Dr Kenneth Baugh says he welcomes the admission by Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson that there is a Chikungunya epidemic. The comment by Dr Baugh comes after the national address last night by the Health Minister.

Dr Baugh stated that this presents an opportunity for a long overdue cohesive national approach, and noted that Dr Kevin Harvey, Acting Chief Medical Officer, had already publicly stated that the virus could affect up to 60% of the entire Jamaican population.

The Opposition spokesman on Health again made clear that the virus is serious not only in its impact on persons and the economy, but in respect of the speed with which it spreads.  He said he was therefore also pleased that the labels of “alarmist” and “scare mongering” have been removed as they had detracted from persons treating the illness as serious, and distracted the Ministry and its agencies from mobilizing and energizing people to constrain the illness.

Dr Baugh noted that while the Minister has finally confronted the seriousness of the issue, he did not address several things. 

He said: “It was unfortunate that his presentation ignored the fact that a lot of pharmacies are out of stock of the basic medications needed to address symptoms.  He needs to make urgent provisions for this.  Related to this point is the fact that the Minister also did not address the matter of budgetary provisions.  The JLP spokesman on Finance, Audley Shaw, has already called for emergency funds to be allocated whether from ODPEM or TEF or otherwise, but the Minister did not address these important points. The Minister also did not bring forward any plan to deal with the garbage pileup across the island that is providing a habitat for mosquitoes.

Dr Baugh also called on the Minister to promptly announce details regarding the emergency command centre, including the location, telephone number and the skill sets that will be mobilized there.  He also said the Minister must ensure that regular information bulletins are issued by text messages and traditional media – providing public health tips, information as to numbers of persons affected in particular areas and steps being taken to manage the situation.

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Health minister"s admission on Chikungunya epidemic is only a first step, says Opposition

Opposition not satisfied with amendments to tax bills

The opposition Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) spokesman on Finance Audley Shaw, remains unsatisfied with the amendments that have been made to the two tax Bills which were approved by the House of Representatives earlier this week.

A wave of concern erupted from various quarters about the bills, because of the far-reaching powers it proposed to grant to the tax authorities.

These include the power to automatically place a lien on property  owned by delinquent taxpayers, and to institute garnishee proceedings.

However on Friday, the Finance Ministry said he amendment to ensure that no lien could be registered without a court order would be removed.

But Shaw is arguing that the power to garnish funds is also one that should only be conducted after the court’s adjudication process.  

Shaw also says the opposition will not backing down from conducting a review on the constitutionality of the bills and will not rule out court action to get the matter resolved.

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Opposition not satisfied with amendments to tax bills

Barbados port authority to lay off 100 workers – Opposition MP

Last September, Barbados began a 19-month fiscal adjustment programme to reduce operating costs, and one plank of that strategy has been a reduction in Government payroll. (Credit: Carbbean360/Bigstock)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday June 30, 2014, CMC- As government struggles to cut cost through financial structural adjustment programme, an Opposition Member of Parliament has revealed that another 100-plus workers may be added to a list of public workers being sent home.

“On the 16th of April, the Chief Executive Officer of the [state-owned] Port Authority wrote to [Barbados Workers Union General Secretary] Sir Roy Trotman, giving him notice that the Port Authority plans to lay off 100-odd out of the 392 workers, 25 per cent of the Port workers are propositioned to lose their jobs,” MP Edmund Hinckson revealed Saturday.

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The Barbados Labour Party politician’s statement comes against a backdrop of the Finance Minister, Chris Sinckler, announcing in December that government will lay off some 3,000 public workers, beginning January as part of a programme aimed at reducing current costs.

There are no official figures on the total number of workers the administration has sent home to date, but the figure is believed to be in excess of 2,000. Following a consultation visit, the IMF – on whose advice it is suspected government is cutting staff – announced in February that 1,800 were so far severed. Since then a number of state entities have announced job cuts, many of which are being disputed by labour unions.

Hinckson said, “Under the Employment Rights Act, notice was given to the main union of the workers of the port. And they were to enter negotiations on how best this [retrenchment] could be done.”

Last September, Barbados began a 19-month fiscal adjustment programme to reduce operating costs, and one plank of that strategy has been a reduction in Government payroll.

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Barbados port authority to lay off 100 workers – Opposition MP

No devaluation threat to the dollar, says Barbados opposition Finance Spokesman

Sunday, June 22, 2014 | 10:09 AM    

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — There is no immediate danger of the currency being pushed below its present value although other economic indicators are sliding, says Clyde Mascoll, the opposition Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) spokesman on finance.

“In spite of the fact that we were having a fiscal crisis problem, and we continue to have one; in spite of the fact that our economy has not been growing for the last six years; in spite of the fact unemployment has been rising, the one economic indicator in Barbados that was positive for the last six years was the adequacy of the foreign reserves at the Central Bank,” Mascoll said recently.

He added:  “If we can get the fundamentals right and do other things and get the policy prescription right, then we should not even be using the word [devaluation] in Barbados”.  

These comments from Mascoll, came at the same day other economic pundits were pointing to increased difficulty in obtaining foreign exchange from the Central Bank and a continued slide of the economy behind those of the CARICOM region.

Disputing a government minister’s claim that there is no problem for individuals and companies obtaining money for overseas transactions, immediate past president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados, David Simpson, claimed that a squeeze on foreign currency access is on.

“I’ve heard some denial from one Cabinet minister this week, but I have experienced it, and one or two of my clients have as well,” Simpson said.

While speculating that the current difficulty in obtaining foreign exchange might be a case of the Central Bank strictly applying an old Barbados policy on release of such funds, Simpson  insisted that the restrictions are now in place regardless of the reason.

“I can tell you it is the case, which suggests there is still some concern in terms of the foreign exchange reserves,” he added.

With no conventional natural resources in significant quantity, Barbados depends on earnings gained through licensing offshore companies, tourism, and a small manufacturing export industry for its foreign currency.

The Central Bank reported that as of March, 2014, the island’s foreign reserves stood at BDS$1.1 billion (Bds $1.00 = US$0.50) that covers 16 weeks of imports.

Also on that day, leading investment banker, Jason Julien, spoke of a need to ring ‘alarm bells’ if there was not economic improvement.

He spoke of the island’s weak economic growth, high debt levels, weak foreign exchange earnings, and its susceptibility to external shocks.

“When we look at the Barbados economy compared to the rest of the region as a whole, the reality is we are lagging behind at this point…The average growth rate expected for Barbados is 0.6 per cent, and when you look at the Caribbean as a whole, it exceeds that,” said Julien.

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No devaluation threat to the dollar, says Barbados opposition Finance Spokesman

New Opposition leader for St Lucia

Sunday, February 02, 2014 | 9:56 PM    

CASTRIES, St.Lucia – The appointment of Dr Gale Rigobert as the country’s new Leader of the Opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has now been confirmed .

Dr. Rigobert was selected a week after Parliamentary Representative for Castries North, Stephenson King was voted out of the post by his UWP colleagues.

On Saturday, an official letter sent to the Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy to formalise the process, has been accepted.

“Pursuant to Section 67 of the Constitution of St Lucia and subject to the provisions of the said Constitution I do hereby appoint you the said Gale Tracy Christiane Rigobert, to be the Leader of the Opposition with effect from February 1, 2014,” the Governor General’s appointment letter read.

Rigobert who lectured at the University of the West Indies, previously served as a member of the Senate, and advisor to the National Development in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and National Development.

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New Opposition leader for St Lucia

New leader confirmed for St Lucia"s Opposition party

CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) — The appointment of Dr Gale Rigobert as the country’s new leader of the Opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has now been confirmed .

Dr Rigobert was selected a week after parliamentary representative for Castries North, Stephenson King, was voted out of the post by his UWP colleagues.

On Saturday an official letter, sent to the Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy to formalise the process, was accepted.

“Pursuant to Section 67 of the Constitution of St Lucia and subject to the provisions of the said Constitution I do hereby appoint you the said Gale Tracy Christiane Rigobert, to be the leader of the Opposition with effect from February 1, with all the powers, rights, privileges and advantages to the said Office belonging or appertaining,” the governor general’s appointment letter read.

Rigobert who lectured at the University of the West Indies, previously served as a member of the Senate, and advisor to the National Development in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and National Development.

She won her Micoud North seat in the 2011 general election and was elected deputy political leader of the UWP in July 2013.

In November 2013 she was made the ambassador for peace for the Universal Peace Federation.

She was due to take her oath of office tomorrow; however, this has now been rescheduled for February 11.

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New leader confirmed for St Lucia"s Opposition party

Trinidad PM, Opposition leader agree on measures to deal with crime

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley have agreed on a number of initiatives to stem rising crime in the twin island state, with the government insisting that “crime is everybody’s business”.

The meeting followed the recent murders, including two 16-year-olds, in a section of the capital earlier this month.In an address to the nation following the meeting Thursday night, Persad Bissessar said that no political party, no individual government can solve crime alone. “This is neither a party nor a political issue. The fight against crime should be something that unites us, not divides us. It will take the collective efforts of the government, all other political groups, the protective services, non-government organisations, businesses and citizens. “Crime is everybody’s business and we cannot end it if we put partisan interests ahead of the good of our country.”Rowley told reporters that the opposition is com¬mit¬ted to working with the government in the fight against crime and reiterated that a collaborative approach was needed.“We are saying that this matter requires urgent action; we will not put any political impediment in the government’s way in treating with the loss of security and loss of opportunities for people in East Port of Spain or anywhere else,” he said.Persad Bissessar said the meeting agreed to devise a new system for the appointment of a Commissioner of Police and to boost the morale within the police service by filling vacancies and undertaking a comprehensive review of promotions in service.There was also an agreement to create a specific offence for witness tampering and intimidation and there would also be a review of the controversial Anti-Gang legislation.Persad Bissessar said with regards to the Bail Act, consideration will be given to deny bail to a convicted criminal if after conviction on a first offence, the person is charged a second time.She said that her administration had undertaken a number of initiatives to deal with the crime situation, and that approval has been given for the police to form a Rapid Response Unit (RRU) and to purchase 300 new vehicles.“This unit will consist of response teams and will be equipped with advanced technological devices to improve police response time to crimes that are in progress. Alongside this, officers will be on patrol throughout the length and breadth of the country,” she said, adding that the teams would initially be focused on the most crime-prone areas in Trinidad and Tobago.“We expect the Unit to be fully operational before the end of the year,” she said, adding that the government has also embarked on a specialised training programme for Special Reserve Police officers. She also called on other stakeholders including religious leaders, teachers,community groups “to continue to work with us so that together we may create safe and secure communities and a country free from fear and the horrendous crimes we are currently witnessing”.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Trinidad PM, Opposition leader agree on measures to deal with crime

VIDEO: Opposition takes Cassia Park Division by-election

THE Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has regained control of the Cassia Park Division of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) after its candidate Beverley Prince defeated the People’s National Party’s (PNP’s) Sheryn Bromfield by more than 400 votes in yesterday’s by-election.

Prince — who previously served as councillor for the division for three consecutive terms between 1998 and 2012 before leaving to run unsuccessfully in the Hagley Park Division in the 2012 local government polls — secured 1,586 votes to Bromfield’s 1,176 when counting of the 41 boxes ended at 6:30 pm yesterday.This has increased the number of JLP councillors in the KSAC to 15 compared to the PNP’s 25. It has also shifted power from the PNP in the division, which was won in 2012 by Bromfield’s mother, Cynthia Burrell, who died earlier this year, thus creating the vacancy.Bromfield was seeking to capitalise on the “goodwill” her late mother was said to have left in the division.But yesterday’s margin of victory, according to Opposition Leader Andrew Holness, is indicative of the message that voters want to send to the PNP Government.He said Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller’s recent comment that a vote in the election would be a vote for her and Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips — in whose East Central constituency the division falls — was because the PNP was confident of the party’s victory.“This area is a microcosm of Jamaica on a whole and the people have sent a powerful message that they are not endorsing the prime minister and the finance minister,” Holness said.This, despite the Electoral Office of Jamaica reporting that only about 26 per cent of the 10,575 eligible voters actually cast their ballots.But Holness said that the turnout was better than last year and topped what he had expected.Meanwhile, an elated Prince said that she never doubted the win given the work she had put in the division even when she stepped aside from representing the area.“This means that the people of Cassia Park have placed wholehearted trust in me,” she said.Babsy Grange, chairperson of the JLP’s Public Relations Committee, said that Prince’s victory has helped to erase the myth that the PNP is a better mobilisor of supporters on the ground.“We had no resources to use and they had it all, yet we won; so the PNP is not a better organiser; that is a myth and we have shattered that today,” she said.Grange, too, believes that this win is a clear signal that people are fedup with the PNP Government.Up to two hours before Prince was declared the winner, supporters of both parties were equally optimistic of a victory.So sure was the PNP of the win that the orange-clad party supporters, who converged outside the Tarrant Baptist Church on Molynes Road to await the results, outnumbered their green-clad counterparts.Member of Parliament for St Catherine South Central Denise Daley had earlier told the Jamaica Observer that the PNP would be the party celebrating at the end of the day.“Our candidate is very young and energetic and has a vision for the division, while the opponent has already had her chance and didn’t do anything with it,” she said.Throughout the day, high-ranking officials from both parties were out in their numbers to lend support to the respective candidates and even to double as party workers at polling stations.For the most part, voting was slow and at times there were far more outdoor agents than voters on the grounds.The festivity associated with elections was also absent at some clusters where outdoor agents adorned in their party colours sat idly by awaiting the voters who trickled in. While orange was the dominant colour at the majority of the polling stations, some PNP party workers admitted that many of those present did not have a vote in the division, but were there to lend support.“We have support from all over Jamaica,” said councillor of the Bull Bay Division Patricia Morgan, who was at the Dunrobin Primary School that housed several polling stations.Dr St Aubyn Bartlett, deputy general secretary of the JLP, said that the number of JLP supporters would appear smaller than that of the PNP as those present were from the division.“All the people you see here are from the constituency and so we didn’t have to take anybody from outside; so don’t watch the numbers because what counts are the votes,” he said.Andre Stephens, who contested the local government election in the Waterford Division for the JLP last year, had earlier predicted that Prince would be a sure winner because of the work she had done in the area.“Whilst it is going to be a stiff election, Prince will be returned home like the Prodigal Son,” he said, adding that the spirit of JLP founder Sir Alexander Bustamante was with the day’s proceedings.For his part, JLP Chairman Robert Montague said that Prince would win as she was not only keen on addressing a number of local government issues, but also lived among the people in the division.See more photos in our Online Photo Gallery:Opposition and Jamaica Labour Party leader Andrew Holness and Beverley Prince share an embrace after she was declared winner in yesterday’s local government by-election in the Cassia Park Division of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation. (PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)A PNP supporter hangs out with her JLP friend.Supporters of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party react after learning that the party had won yesterday’s by-election. (PHOTOS: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)People’s National Party supporters look on in disappointment after the result of the by-election was announced.Beverley Prince (centre) surrouned by elated supporters, yesterday.

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VIDEO: Opposition takes Cassia Park Division by-election

Independence Day message by Opposition Leader Andrew Holness

Latest News

Tuesday, August 06, 2013 | 2:46 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The following is the August 6, 2013 Independence Day Message from the Leader of the Opposition Andrew Holness in full:My fellow Jamaicans:Independent Jamaica is now 51 years old. This is truly a day to be joyful and proud, a day to rejoice in the memories of the courage, determination and triumphs of our founding fathers and other pioneers, who relit the fires of freedom to achieve for us our Independence from colonial rule. This is a day to remember their struggles and sacrifices with sober reflection.So as we celebrate this Independence Day, let us renew our national commitment to addressing in meaningful ways those critical areas of our society that remain issues of concern.In terms of our economy, we now have an IMF agreement at long last! But this is still not the time to express relief. The IMF agreement we have is not the cure-all for our economic problems. We will not have success in our economic programmes unless we can show the political will to implement meaningful structural economic change. One such change must be tax reform, which will see a lower tax burden to all, a wider tax net and greater tax revenues.Let us renew our commitment to improving the productivity and efficiency of our economy by ensuring that all our labour force is trained and certified and that businesses are able to retool and incorporate the latest technology into their production.Let us recommit ourselves to ensuring that our education system is of the highest standards and that our teachers are motivated as instructional and institutional leaders. Education is the real long term solution to national growth and development. We must protect and cherish all of its stakeholders. We must seek to implement those measures that will boost performance among both teachers and students while being careful to avoid short-term measures that will have a negative impact on educational outcomes in the long run.Regarding our energy sector, the cost of energy has continued to be a major impediment to our development. We must therefore acquire the firm resolve to examine and fix the inefficiencies in this sector. We have to develop new and efficient and environmentally safe base load production of electricity. Energy is critical to growth; in this area our current arrangements make us energy dependent. We must restructure our energy sector to be efficient with fuels on which we are import dependent and advance our capabilities to produce energy from the sun and wind with which we are blessed.Noted scholars Philip Sherlock and Hazel Bennett, writing in, “The Story of the Jamaican People” explained: “Emancipation gave them [our ancestors] the right to free movement, the right to choose where and when they wished to work but without basic education and training many were compelled to remain on the plantation as field hands”. This continues to be the story of many Jamaicans today. Though all Jamaicans are physically free, to make whatever choices they wish, without education and training many Jamaicans are compelled to remain in poor circumstances.  Let us commit to ending abject poverty in Jamaica. We will not all be rich, but no one should be poor. As a symbol of our independence and nationhood let us set as a guarantee for all Jamaicans that we will build an economy and society where all Jamaicans can have quality access to the amenities and opportunities which when paired with their freedom and effort will lead to their happiness and fulfilment.These areas directly affect the future and hopes of all Jamaicans. So, while we celebrate our Independence, let us take the time to reflect on what we need to do to protect and enhance this Independence. Let us bear in mind these constructive words of Sir William Alexander Bustamante in 1962 on the occasion of our very first Independence Day: “Independence means the opportunity for us to frame our own destiny and the need to rely on ourselves for so doing”.Have a blessed, but also a productive day.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Independence Day message by Opposition Leader Andrew Holness

Opposition wants smoking ban issues addressed...

… before Parliament breaks

THE Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) on Wednesday demanded that Minister of Health, Dr Fenton Ferguson address the backlash created by the smoking ban before the beginning of Parliament’s summer break, which starts next week.“The minister’s commitment to bring the regulations to Parliament sometime in the future, presumably, after the summer break, is unacceptable,” Opposition Spokesman on Health, Dr Kenneth Baugh, told a press briefing at the Jamaica Labour Party’s Belmont Road headquarters in St Andrew.Dr Baugh said that while the Opposition understands the appropriateness of the measures, the minister had denied the Opposition and other parliamentarians an opportunity to speak on the measures by failing to bring them to Parliament prior to implementation.“Because of the hurried nature of the process, we are imploring that there have been serious oversights,” he said.He listed among the oversights the failure to legislate on the selling of cigarettes to minors; minors involved in the sale of cigarettes; lack of compliance with the first protocol of the World Health Organisation/Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to eliminate the illicit trade in cigarettes; and establishment of a unit responsible for the coordination and implementation of all the measures, including effective health education.“It is clear that the regulations have not gone far enough in some instances, and are too draconian in others,” Baugh commented.He also pointed to the fact that several attempts by the Opposition to have discussions at the level of Parliament on the issues since the ban, including the tabling of motions and questions, have been ignored by the minister.He said that an assurance from Government that his motion would have been debated in the House of Representatives on Tuesday was withdrawn.Opposition Spokesman on Tourism Edmund Bartlett, who was also present at the press conference, criticised the likely effects on tourism, including the need for hotels to make tremendous adjustments to meet the changes to assist “the enormous amount of visitors who are smokers”.Meanwhile, Opposition Senator Alexander Williams said that while they accepted that the minister has powers under section 14 of the Public Health Act to issue orders, those powers should only be used in cases of emergencies.“I don’t know that you can legislate, for lifestyle changes, that areas be designated smoking areas or not, and that would fit in with the spirit of the Act,” said Senator Williams, who suggested that what is needed is a separate legislation dealing with an overall policy on the use of tobacco.BAUGH… it is clear that the regulations have not gone far enough in some instances, and are too draconian in othersFERGUSON… failed to bring the regulations before the House of Representatives on Tuesday

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Opposition wants smoking ban issues addressed...