Power 106 FM election news, Friday August 10
Written by JamaicaElections.com
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Additional school years
The People’s National Party (PNP) is proposing an extension of the time students spend in school if it forms the next government.
In its party manifesto launched yesterday, the party said the period would increase from 12 to 14 years.
Education Minister, Maxine Henry-Wilson says the plan was formulated after a Task Force review of the education system. She also indicated that the new system would allow for smoother transition.
The PNP has also indicated that if elected it will increase the number of students benefiting from the exam fee assistance programme to approximately 40,000 annually.
Currently the government pays for specific CXC subjects for public high school students.
PNP on building
The PNP says it will be cutting the waiting time for building approvals should it form the next government.
In its manifesto released yesterday, the party said in its next term it would begin to develop orders for all parishes and major urban centres.
The party believes this would reduce the time for decisions on development and subdivision applications.
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in its manifesto also proposed cutting the waiting time for approvals of building applications. It says a single body with the representatives form key agencies will be set up to evaluate and approve or reject a building application within 90 days.
However, the PNP’s manifesto has not outlined a timeline.
In the meantime, the PNP says should it form the next government it will finalise the National Planning and Environment Act. It will also streamline the fees charged by various agencies involved in the process to approve developments.
Political debate on
The second in the series of national political debates is scheduled for this evening between the JLP’s Audley Shaw and Dr. Omar Davies of the PNP.
The debate, organized by the Jamaica Debates Commission, will focus on economic issues.
The moderator will be Derek Jones and the journalists posing questions are Franklyn McKnight, Garfield Burford and Erica Virtue.
Mr. Shaw is the Opposition Spokesman on Finance while Dr. Davies is the Minister of Finance and Planning.
The debates began on Wednesday with Dr. Ken Baugh of the JLP tackling the PNP’s Dr. Peter Phillips.
Tomorrow evening JLP leader Bruce Golding will face off with PNP president Portia Simpson-Miller.
The debates will be broadcast live on Power 106 FM at 9 p.m.