#Kingston, May 7, 2019 – Jamaica – No jobs will be lost consequent on the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries’ assumption of the functions of the Management Authority, which previously advised the Government on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
This is
according to Leader of Government Business in the Upper House, Senator the Hon.
Kamina Johnson Smith, who piloted the Protection of Plant Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture (Amendment) Act during the Senate’s on May 3.
The
legislation makes provisions for certain functions of the Authority, which was established
under the principal Act, to be formally integrated into the Ministry’s Research
and Development Division.
“The
Management Authority… wasn’t actually a separate entity that employed
separately and now needs to be rationalised. Persons who functioned therein,
functioned together with the Research and Development Division, as it exists,”
Senator Johnson Smith explained.
She
further noted that the Act will allow for “an alignment closer to the reality,
with some adjustments to [ensure greater] accountability [and] efficiency, and
effectiveness of assignment of roles and responsibilities will be more clearly
implemented and implementable”.
This
move, Senator Johnson Smith said, is in keeping with the Government’s Public
Sector Transformation and Modernisation Programme, “which has been broadly
designed to increase the overall effectiveness of public sector service
delivery, reduced cost of government and to contribute to economic growth and
development”.
She
noted, however, that the policy advice function of the previous Management
Authority is to be carried out by the Plant Genetic Resources Advisory Task
Force – a new body to be established under the Act, and comprising members
similar to those of the former body.
The
task force will advise the Minister on matters of policy and legal measures
that facilitate the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources
and the equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use.
The
principal Act was promulgated in 2013 to support Jamaica’s obligation under the
2001 International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture,
which the country ratified in 2006. The
Treaty aims to guarantee food security through the conservation, exchange and
sustainable use of the world’s plant genetic resources for food and
agriculture.
“The
Bill seeks to assure full integration into the Ministry responsible for agriculture,
by repealing the provision in the principal Act… for corporate status of the
Management Authority while ensuring that Jamaica continues to operate as required
under the Treaty,” Senator Johnson Smith informed.
Specifically,
she noted that the amendments will require that the Ministry integrate the activities
under the Treaty into the Government’s relevant agricultural and rural
development policies and programmes, cooperate with the relevant international
organisations in order to establish or strengthen the capabilities of
developing countries with respect to sustainable use of plant genetic resources,
and promote the sharing and exchange of plant genetic resources.
“It
will also be required to manage the plant resources fund and establish and
maintain the register of plant genetic resources,” she said.
The
Bill was passed without amendments. It was previously approved in the Lower
House on February 26.
Contact: Alecia Smith
Release: JIS
Photo Caption: Leader of Government Business in the Upper House, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, emphasises a point while piloting the Protection of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Amendment) Act in the Senate on May 3. Seated is Minister without Portfolio in the ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr.
Photographer: Donald De La Haye