Jamaica’s Government to widen plastic ban

The Jamaica government says it will be taking steps during this financial year to widen its ban on single-use plastic as it seeks to further protect the country’s natural environment from degradation and destruction

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda, told the 10th regional session of the Youth Environment Advocacy Program (YEAP) on ‘Marine Pollution: The Role of Plastics,” that microbeads and plastic lunch boxes will be targeted under impending changes to the ban on single-use plastic

Beryllium Limited has advised that there may be delays in the delivery of its services as it assesses its operations across Jamaica in the aftermath of the attack on its crew on Sunday

Reports are that one of the company ’ s vehicles and crew was targeted at Scotiabank in Portmore, St Catherine Beryllium Limited confirmed the that driver and three crew members were shot and injured in a press release issued on Sunday and stated that it is cooperating with police in their investigations

“We are cooperating with the police in their investigations Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with the crew and their family at this time,” the statement said

The two motorcars that were reportedly used by the gunmen in the attack were recovered by the police

They were found abandoned in the Lakes Pen area of the parish Videos of the incident have gone viral on social media, showing the shootout between members of the security team and the gunmen

The incident follows the attack on another Beryllium team which left a security guard dead and two others injured at the Portmore Pines plaza in February The gunmen escaped with $10 million in cash

Jamaica’s minimum wage moves to $13,000 weekly

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that the national minimum wage will be increased from $9,000 to $13,000 per 40-hour work week effective June 1 This is a 44 percent increase and is said to be the largest in 20 years

Holness made the announcement during the Budget Debate at Gordon House on Thursday He stated that the government was strategic in not imposing new taxes in the trillion-dollar budget to avoid eroding Jamaicans’ income

“We recognized that the contribution of minimum wage earners such as household workers, artisans, laborers, store clerks, and security personnel is vital to the success of our manufacturers, hotel professionals, lawyers, doctors, and teachers in meeting our national productivity and service targets,” he said

He shared that the minimum wage for industrial security guards will be increased from $10,500 per week to $14,000, which will also take effect on June

He explained that the differential between the national minimum wage and the minimum wage payable to security guards has narrowed as security guards are now classified as workers

Holness said that the differential will be removed the next time an increase in the national minimum wage is announced

The Prime Minister further said that since taking office in 2016, the Jamaica Labour Party government has raised the minimum wage from $6,200 to $13,000, a 110 percent increase in seven years

He pointed out that the cumulative inflation over the period was less than 50 percent “and even in US dollars it represents a 66 percent increase in the minimum wage ”

Holness stated that his government has done more than any previous administration to bring prosperity to Jamaicans

“The principal intent of the ban is to p r e v e n t n o n - r e c y c l a b l e , n o nbiodegradable carcinogenic waste from entering our garbage,” Samuda said in the address read out by the Ministry’s Chief

He said the government will start in the new financial year to look at microbeads, which are microplastics in personal-care products, and different types of lunch boxes which are made of plastic

The government has already imposed a ban on the importation, manufacture, and distribution of single-use plastic bags, straws, and polystyrene, which took effect on January 1, 2019, a move Samuda said has been bearing fruit

He noted also that the authorities will seek to engage with the population “ on this important national issue” as the push continues to encourage more Jamaicans to abide by the principles of environment preservation and protection

Since the establishment of YEAP, an estimated 1,400 students across the island have been sensitized about the importance of a healthy environment to the sustainable development of the country