KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Daryl Vaz will not be speaking in this afternoon’s section of the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.

Vaz was originally listed among today’s four speakers in the debate. However, the latest agenda made available by Gordon House has reduced the list to Dr Andrew Wheatley, minister of science, energy and technology; Peter Bunting, Opposition spokesperson on national security; and Opposition spokesperson on Sport and Entertainment Natalie Neita Headley.

In his speech, Dr Wheatley is expected to address a number of issues related to his portfolios, including: energy priorities; PPA with Eight Rivers Energy Company; renewables and waste to energy; the SILC (pronounced Silk) Project; the bad gas resolution; net billing; hydro electricity; ethanol and sugarcane recovery; LNG; energy efficiency and conservation; global value of the nutraceutical industry and potential impact on Jamaica; true universal access for citizens; tablets in schools; incorporating ICT into employment and economic growth; and open data policy and open data portal.

Balford Henry