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Science and Social Studies will again be removed from the external assessment of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams for grade six students.

Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon said the decision was taken, as many students are still struggling to deal with the trauma caused by Hurricane Melissa last year.

She made the disclosure at a post Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday.

The PEP exams, which are carried out over a three year period from grades four to six, are largely used to place students in high school.

Following the passage of the Hurricane Melissa last year, grade six students did only the Ability test, the Mathematics curriculum based test, and the Language Arts curriculum based test.

Science and Social Studies were omitted due to the hurricane’s passage, which disrupted learning in Western Jamaica.

Dr. Morris Dixon said following consultations, the revised exams will be allowed, for another year.

Information Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon says there is no link between recent comments made about public sector workers sabotaging the work of the government and the recent transfer of former Financial Secretary Darlene Morrison.

After serving for years in that post, Morrison was reassigned as the permanent secretary in the newly created Ministry of Mining and Geology.

Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness accused some public sector workers of deliberately sabotaging the government’s policies and recovery programmes.

The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) has called on Dr. Holness to provide evidence of his claim.

Speaking on the matter at a post Cabinet press briefing today, Dr. Morris Dixon emphasized that no law was breached, regarding Morrison’s transfer.

The Minister reiterated that no link can be made to Morrison playing any role in sabotaging the government, citing her experience as a seasoned public servant.

Dr. Morris Dixon said Morrison’s experience will be crucial to the success of the Mining and Geology Ministry.

When asked if Dr. Holness will provide evidence of those allegedly sabotaging the government, Dr. Morris Dixon said she has not spoken with the Prime Minister on the matter.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will have the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill tabled in Parliament before the end of the fiscal year.

Portfolio Minister, Pearnel Charles Jr., gave the update, at the addressing gaps in work place health policies policy forum on Wednesday.

The legislation aims to prevent work place accidents, injuries and occupational diseases by creating a modern, comprehensive legal framework that protects workers, across all sectors.

Mr. Charles Jr. said the Bill is under extensive review.

The Minister said the legislation will align Jamaica with international standards and best practices, while also responding to the realities of the labour market.

He noted that protecting workers’ lives and health is too important, for the Bill to be delayed, without just cause.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson on Labour, Wavell Hinds stated that the opposition stands ready to support the advancement and passage of a robust Occupational Safety and Health Bill.

The second flight transporting a Third-Country National (TCN) to Jamaica is expected to arrive this week.

Information Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon made the announcement at a post-Cabinet press briefing this morning.

TCNs arrive in the country under an arrangement with the United States government.

While some countries have agreed to accept criminals under their respective programmes, Jamaica has not agreed to do so.

Dr. Morris Dixon said only one individual will be on the second TCN flight.

Dr. Morris Dixon said that as at this morning, 20 of the TCNs who arrived in Jamaica on October 13 have left or are in the process of leaving.

She said the alarm about the TCN programme was unnecessary.

“There is a difference between Parliamentary scrutiny and the abuse of Parliamentary process”

That is the position of Leader of Government Business, Floyd Green, who made the comment at Jamaica House this morning.

His remarks come amid controversy surrounding a censure motion over Jamaica’s decision to abstain from a United Nations resolution calling for an end to the United States embargo against Cuba.

The motion, tabled by Opposition Member of Parliament Anthony Hylton last evening, reportedly sought to censure the Government over allegations that it misled Parliament about its position on the resolution.

However, the Opposition objected to the Government’s handling of the motion.

It accused the Government of manipulating Parliamentary procedures to prevent a full debate on the matter.

The dispute escalated, resulting in the adjournment of the House and a reported confrontation between Government MP Desmond McKenzie and Opposition MP Mikael Phillips.

Addressing the controversy, Mr. Green insisted that the Government is not afraid of Parliamentary scrutiny.

He also argued that disagreement with the Government does not automatically amount to misconduct.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Mikael Phillips has rejected what he describes as false and misleading claims by Deputy Leader of Government Business Robert Morgan about the incident at Gordon House following yesterday’s premature adjournment of Parliament.

Phillips has acknowledged that he reacted angrily during the incident and used an expletive, an action for which he says he is regretful.

In a statement this morning, Phillips said he was standing with two other Opposition MPs discussing the circumstances surrounding the adjournment, when the House Speaker left the Chamber.

He alleged that it was at that point that MP for Kingston Western, Desmond McKenzie, verbally confronted him and made an offensive remark about his deceased mother.

According to Phillips, McKenzie repeated the remark, prompting his angry response.

The Manchester North Western MP also argued that the frustration of members’ rights to speak and debate has contributed to an increasingly tense atmosphere in the House of Representatives and a deterioration in Parliamentary Order.

Tensions inside Gordon House spilt over beyond the Parliamentary debate last evening, with Deputy Leader of Government Business Robert Morgan calling out Opposition Member of Parliament, Mikael Phillips, over an alleged confrontation with West Kingston MP, Desmond McKenzie.

Morgan alleged that Phillips used expletives and moved aggressively towards McKenzie, shortly after the House was adjourned, following an exchange involving House Speaker Juliet Holness.

He said McKenzie intervened after Phillips made disrespectful remarks towards the Speaker, sparking a confrontation which required the intervention of other Parliamentarians.

Morgan described the conduct of Phillips and other Opposition members as disgraceful.

Morgan also questioned the response of Opposition Leader Mark Golding, claiming that video footage shows him being caught up in the incident before walking away.

He said the incident reflects behaviour that should have no place in the nation’s legislative chamber, arguing that Parliamentarians have a duty to set an example of respectful and professional conduct.

The incident unfolded against the backdrop of an already tense Parliamentary sitting, during which Government and Opposition members clashed over a censure motion concerning Jamaica’s abstention from a United Nations Resolution on the United States embargo against Cuba.

The Opposition has accused the Government of using Parliamentary procedures to curtail debate on the motion.

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) through two of its statutory authorities is considering measures to bring Jamaica’s gullies under stricter environmental regulation including the possibility of designating them as special environmental zones.

Chairman of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) and the Town and Country Planning Authority (TCPA) Christopher Whyms-Stone says he hopes to lobby for legislation that would formally recognise gullies as protected environmental areas and establish clear standards governing activities within them.

Among the measures being considered is the introduction of discharge licences for persons or property owners responsible for releasing waste or other substances into gullies.

Mr. Whyms-Stone says establishing standards would be critical to ensuring that any proposed legislation can be  enforced effectively.

He was speaking this morning  at the World Town Planning Day Forum ,under the theme: “From Recovery to Resilience: Planning for a strong Jamaica.”

Yesterday’s sitting of the Lower House descended into chaos when an attempt by the Opposition to put through a censure motion against the Government about the Cuba embargo failed.

Opposition Member Antony Hylton tabled the motion, which sought to have the Government respond within one week and demand answers about what has been deemed a secret policy shift.

It comes in the wake of Jamaica’s recent decision to abstain from voting on the United Nations Resolution that called for an end to the embargo imposed on Cuba by the United States.

Hylton argued that the Government misled the House.

It was intended for the motion to be debated next week and with Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness present.

However, Leader of Government Business in the Lower House Floyd Green pointed out that the motion should be dealt with now.

Green described the motion as being absurd and fundamentally misconceived.

The matter led to a tense standoff, with Opposition members objecting to Green’s claims and House Speaker Juliet Holness referring to the Standing Orders that apply to the situation.

Green also outlined the responsibility of the Executive to formulate and conduct policy, then asked for the debate to be closed.

The matter was voted on and closed.

The Fi We Children Foundation is calling on the Ministry of Education to conduct and make public an assessment of the affected classrooms and identify outstanding repairs required at Cornwall College in St. James.

This is after a video circulating on social media showed students sitting in a classroom as rainwater leaks through the roof.

Principal of the institution, Michael Ellis, indicated that the school is among several still undergoing repairs following Hurricane Melissa.

The Foundation argued that a school environment must be safe, dignified and conducive to teaching and learning.

Project Officer Tasheera Thompson said it is unacceptable that students should have to contend with leaking classrooms while attempting to access education.