Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Tuesday - CPFSA probe, Republic snag, SOEs and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Wednesday, January 11, 2023 Williams asks Gage-Grey to step aside as CPFSA CEO amid probe Education Minister Fayval Williams has [asked the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), Rosalee Gage-Grey to step aside]( to facilitate an investigation into her conduct at the State agency, by the Public Service Commission (PSC). Williams made the call on Tuesday during a statement in the House of Representatives, where she highlighted the contents of a damning report from the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA), detailing the relationship between Gage-Grey and Carl Robanske, head of the United States-based organisation Embracing Orphans. The OCA’s probe confirmed that Robankse, the executive director of Embracing Orphans, had his education certificate suspended in the United States after it was ascertained that he had sexually inappropriate exchanges with a minor. The OCA said Gage-Grey failed in her administrative and moral duty to these former wards of the State who were based at the transition facility, The Father’s House, operated by Embracing Orphans. In her statement, Williams referenced the OCA’s report which highlighted instances of deception on the part of Gage-Grey, including when she misled the minister during regular weekly meetings to believe that the CPFSA had ended its relationship with Embracing Orphans and Robanske. Instead, when Gage-Grey told the minister that she had engaged the services of another entity - Jamaica Relief Ministry, an overseas mission that operates a children's home in the western end of the island – there was a glaring omission. She did not disclose that the entity had an ongoing relationship with Embracing Orphans. The reports said the wards of the State were told not to cooperate with the OCA’s investigation. “The situation is untenable, it cannot be defended,” Williams stated Opposition refuses to name members to Constitutional Reform Committee The timeline for Jamaica transitioning from a Constitutional Monarchy to a republic [has been delayed]( the parliamentary Opposition has refused to name members to a high-level Constitutional Reform Committee. Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Marlene Mahahoo Forte, chided Opposition leader Mark Golding over his decision not to name two members of the Opposition to the committee, ostensibly because he wants the issue of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) dealt with at the same time Jamaica moves to replace the Monarchy. Golding argued, among other things, that the majority of Jamaicans are unable to access the UK-based Privy Council, Jamaica’s final court, because of the cost involved and the fact that a visa is required to visit the UK. He also wants full disclosure on the provisions of the existing constitution that the government is seeking to repeal/replace. “If there are concerns and I understand the concerns, don't hold up the naming of the committee. The purpose of the committee is to provide guidance. The purpose of the committee is to help build consensus and to ensure that the views of the parliamentary opposition are taken into account,” Malahoo Forte said. SOES end today The [latest round of states of emergency (SOEs)]( that were declared for eight parishes on December 28 will come to an end today. The emergency measure has been allowed to expire as the Government did not seek the support of the Opposition to have it extended beyond the allowable two weeks. Based on the constitution, a SOE is allowed to remain in force for two weeks after it is declared. Thereafter, it must receive a two-thirds vote in both houses of the Parliament to have it extended for up to three months at a time. With control of 49 of the 63 seats in the House or Representatives, the government usually achieves the two-thirds threshold quite easily in the lower chamber. However, it needs the vote of one of the eight opposition senators in the 21-seat Senate to keep the SOEs, its main crimefighting tool going. Advertisement NIDS Regulations tabled in Parliament Members of the public have until February 21 to make submissions in relation to the draft regulations that will govern the [National Identification System (NIDS)]( which were tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Floyd Green, who has responsibility for the implementation of the NIDS, said public support is important to the process, thus feedback on the draft regulations is being sought. Green said the intention of the government is that the NIDS regulations are in place by the first quarter of the new financial year, which begins on April 1. He reiterated that the NIDS was intended to make the lives of Jamaicans better, while making it easier for persons to do business in Jamaica. The regulations, among other things, outline issues such as enrolment, information security, issuance of a NIDs number, and an appeal mechanism. NIDS is a unique, reliable and secure way of verifying an individual’s identity. It will establish a reliable database of all Jamaican citizens and will involve the issuance of a unique lifelong National Identification Number (NIN) to every person. In the long term, the NIN may be used alongside a multipurpose card, or be uploaded onto smart phones Members of the Jamaican diaspora will be able to register for the new identification card. Netball: Sunshine Girls play England in Vitality Series Jamaica's Sunshine Girls will square off against hosts England in game one of their [three-Test Vitality Netball International Series]( which runs from today until Sunday, January 15. Game one will be played at the AO Arena in Manchester with the second match set for Friday. The final game in the series is set for the same venue on January 15. Netball Jamaica President Tricia Robinson said Sunshine Girls Head Coach Connie Francis is expected to field a very strong team for the series because a number of experienced players are set to return from injury for the tour. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING Shenseea set for Coachella debut Dancehall star Shenseea is [set to make her debut at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]( in April. The announcement was made via the festival's social media account. Several hurt in Paris station attack French media are reporting that people have been stabbed at a Paris train station and the interior minister says several people were injured before police “rapidly neutralized” the attacker. - AP Germany to lift restrictions on gay blood donors Germany will [amend its guidelines for donating blood]( so the same rules apply to everyone regardless of their sexual orientation, the country's health minister said. TODAY IN HISTORY Condensed milk inventor dies Gail Borden II, the inventor of condensed milk — which during the American Civil War was in high demand as a ration for Union soldiers — died [on this day]( in 1874 at age 72. For more stories, visit our website at www.jamaicaobserver.com or [sign up for our e-paper](. [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Website]( Copyright © 2023 Jamaica Observer, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 40 - 42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue Kingston 5 Want to change how you receive these emails? 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