( L - R ) Millwood, Golding

The Ezroy Millwood-led National Transport Cooperative Society (NTCS) is taking its case to the United Kingdom Privy Council in an effort to have its $4.5-billion arbitration award restored.

On Monday, the court of appeal granted the NTCS leave to pursue its appeal.

After the Government took over public transportation in the Kingston metropolitan region five years before the 10-year contract had expired, NTCS sued to recover damages for losses. The matter went to arbitration and a $4.5-billion award with interest was made to the NTCS.

The Government went to the supreme court and was successful in having the award set aside. Last month, the court of appeal upheld the supreme court ruling.

Building breach offenders warned

Robert Montague, state minister with responsibility for local government, has warned that the Government would be taking steps to recover the cost of remedying breaches of the building code.

He issued this caution Tuesday to developers, investors, home builders and architects, while making his contribution to the 2008/2009 Sectoral Debate in Gordon House.

Penalties would also be applied to persons who submit incomplete building plans to the parish council.

Giving an update on the work by the parish councils to clear a backlog of building plans, Montague said the Westmoreland Parish Council had achieved 100 per cent clearance.

"We intend to release the developer, the investor and homeowner by allowing them a faster turnaround time."

PM dissatisfied with education sector

Prime Minister Bruce Golding says he is dissatisfied with the returns that Government is getting on its annual expenditure of $57 billion on education.

Speaking Sunday night at the annual fund-raising dinner of the Educational Foundation for Children's Care Inc (Ja) at the Mona Visitors' Lodge in St Andrew, Golding said some $50 billion of the annual education expenditure represents grants that go directly to the schools.

However, he noted that while there was need to spend more, he was not satisfied that value was being received for the amount spent.

"We spend a lot of time diagnosing our education deficiencies and there is no question that there are gross deficiencies. You see it in terms of the poor performance of our children.

"At the grade four assessment level, 30 per cent of our children are not showing the proficiency they should be showing," Golding told the gathering.

The prime minister said that in order for the system to be more effective, parents needed to play their part and to support both the school and the teachers.

PNP opposes EPA clause

The National Executive Council of the People's National Party (PNP) on Sunday called on the Government to pursue multilateral discussions with the private sector and trade unions before signing the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union.

In a release, the party cited concerns about the developmental impact of the accord, calling the inclusion of the Most Favoured Nation clause 'unacceptable'.

The PNP also made reference to opposition to the clause by some member states of the World Trade Organisation and African, Pacific and Caribbean grouping.

The MFN clause in agreements with developing countries was never intended to confer benefits on developed countries at the expense of developing countries, the PNP charged.