Casino law debate kicks off today
Published:Tuesday | June 22, 2021 | 12:08 AM
Finance and the Public Service Minister Dr Nigel Clarke is expected to begin debate today on amendments to the Casino Gaming Act to provide for the inclusion of the minimum capital investment required to finance the establishment and operation of an approved integrated resort development.
The Casino Gaming Act aims to provide a comprehensive legislative and regulatory framework to stimulate the growth of the integrated resort development sector and the wider economy through large-scale foreign direct investment generated from such developments.
The parent law is being amended to reduce the number of hotel rooms required to be constructed in an approved integrated resort development.
According to the memorandum of objects and reasons of the proposed law, the principal act will be adjusted to enable developers currently constructing hotel rooms to qualify to apply for an integrated resort development order.
The Government is also seeking to amend the parent law to authorise the construction of luxury rooms in accordance with the prescribed size specifications and minimum construction cost per room.
During Tuesday’s sitting of the Lower House of Parliament, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange will open the debate on the report of the joint select committee that examined the Sexual Harassment Act, 2020.
Grange told her parliamentary colleagues two weeks ago that she wanted the bill debated and passed in the House of Representatives before the end of this month.
She had also disclosed that her ministry was making every effort to complete the regulations in short order.
The far-reaching proposed statute contains provisions for dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace, schools, correctional institutions, places of safety, nursing homes, medical and psychiatric facilities, among other places.
The bill was first tabled on October 16, 2019, by Grange.