Cabinet okays merging of security departments

AMMAN — The Council of Ministers on Monday approved the 2019 amendments to the Public Security Law, which follow His Majesty King Abdullah's directives to the government to immediately proceed with merging the civil defence and gendarmerie departments into the Public Security Department (PSD).

The bill also aims at transferring the authorities of these two departments to the PSD in a way that guarantees the highest levels of security coordination and controls expenditures, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Cabinet also approved a 2019 by-law organising procedures to protect the contents of the real estate records in case of partial or complete damage to involved documents.

Additionally, the Council of Ministers approved basic measures for settling pending cases between taxpayers and the Income and Sales Tax Department, stipulating the formation of a committee at the department for this purpose.

Also on Monday, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Access to Information Law, prior to referring them to the Lower House for endorsement.

Endorsing the new amendments is part of the government's commitment to honour its pledges for 2019 and 2020, which include facilitating citizens’ access to information and enhancing integrity and transparency, Petra reported.

Prime Minister Omar Razzaz withdrew the draft law for access to information from the Lower House in November 2018 for further amendments.