#Kingston, July 25, 2019 – Jamaica – Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, says the Government is moving expeditiously to put the sexual harassment legislation in place. The Bill was tabled in the House of Representatives on July 9.
Ms. Grange said members of the
joint select committee from the Lower House who will consider the Bill have
already been appointed, and within a matter of days, the members of the Upper
House will be announced.
“We will (then) convene the joint
select committee meetings and move expeditiously to sign off on the Bill to
ensure that we have this legislation in place,” she said.
Minister Grange was responding to
questions surrounding allegations of sexual harassment at
a tertiary institution in St. Andrew, during a post-Cabinet press briefing at
Jamaica House on Wednesday (July 24).
In the meantime, Minister with
responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, said he
has spoken to the chairman of the board of the educational institution and “a
letter is enroute outlining certain findings and so on, and we will act on
their recommendation”.
He said the board has the
responsibility of managing the school and the Ministry.
“Once we (Ministry) detect that
there are deficiencies that rise to the level of great concern then we can
intervene by convening a meeting with the board, but we give the board… the
authority to act on behalf of the Ministry,” he said.
The Bill addresses concerns about
sexual harassment that is employment-related, occurring in institutions, or
arising in the landlord and tenant relationship. It outlines the types of conduct that
constitute sexual harassment and prohibits certain related conduct.
It further makes provisions for the
hearing of complaints by a Sexual Harassment Tribunal.
Contact: Chris Patterson
Release: JIS
Photographer: Donald De La Haye
Photo Caption: Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, addressing Wednesday’s (July 24) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.