Health Minister, Ruddy Spencer, last year ignored a warning by a task force he set up to review the island's regional health authorities (RHAs) by pressing ahead with the abolition of user fees in hospitals and health centres.

The task force, led by Dr Winston Davidson, had cautioned that the move would have very serious health consequences and significantly impact the financing of the budget of the authorities.

The committee had also warned that the abolition of user fees would weaken the Government's bargaining position for public/private partnerships as it would undermine investor confidence with respect to return on investment in a business climate where health services are essentially free.

New GG sworn in

Allen

Dr Patrick Allen was installed on Thursday, February 26 as Jamaica's sixth governor general. The swearing-in ceremony took place at King's House in front of a large gathering of government and opposition members, family and well-wishers. Allen took the oath of office just after 5:30 p.m. and pledged to "wholeheartedly discharge the duties that accompany this office".

The new governor general encouraged Jamaicans to start an 'I believe' campaign as a means of healing the land, which has been broken by violence, strife and poverty.

Kingston Pier tragedy

IT WAS billed as a late-night party at Kingston Harbour, but the boat never left the dock, as a barrage of bullets brought the session to a premature end.

When the gunfire ended, one man lay dead, just a few metres from the boat, two were nursing gunshot wounds and several others had minor injures after a mad rush for safety.

By-election March 23

Vaz and Dabdoub

The battle for West Portland will move from the courtroom to the polling booths on Monday, March 23, when the almost 18,000 voters in the constituency of West Portland will be called back to cast their votes.

In the meantime, ousted West Portland Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz has vowed to reclaim the seat with an increased majority. He called on the people of West Portland to "hold tight until I return".

In the September 2007 general elections, 73 per cent of the 17,805 electors voted, with Vaz polling 6,977 to Dabdoub's 6,033.