KINGSTON, Jamaica – Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell is scheduled to open the debate on the Electricity Act 2015, when the House meets today at Gordon House.

This Bill is intended to clarify ministerial powers over the granting of exclusive or non-exclusive licences for the distribution of power supplies.

It was introduced in January to codify the ministerial powers, following the decision by the Court of Appeal that the Jamaica Public Service’s all-island electricity licence, granted by the energy minister to transmit electricity exclusively, was valid.

That decision reversed a 2012 ruling of the Supreme Court that JPS’s 20-year monopoly licence on electricity distribution was invalid.

Paulwell said recently that the new legislation will leave no doubt as to the minister’s ability to offer an “exclusive licence”, and that “the exclusivity that the minister gives or grants will be enshrined in law”.

The original Bill tabled in January was withdrawn last week, and replaced with a new one with several changes.

The House will also continue debate on the Public Procurement Act, 2014, which is being piloted by Minister with responsibility for Public Service in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Horace Dalley.

The Bill will provide for the establishment of the Procurement Policy Office, the Public Procurement Commission, as well as strengthen and expand the functions of the procurement review board that will regulate and harmonize the public procurement process.

It will also delete from the Contractor General’s Act all provisions related to the National Contracts Commission (NCC), which is to be replaced by the new Public Procurement Commission.

Also on the agenda for today’s sitting of the House is the continuation of the debate on a JSC report on the Road Traffic Bill.

Balford Henry