Deadbeat dads will get community service

In news from Tuesday’s Cabinet session a government release reports that a number of new legislative initiatives will be undertaken shortly. One measure, which will bring relief to fathers behind on their child support payments, is that deadbeat dads will no longer be put in jail. Instead Cabinet agreed to consider new legislation, which will allow Family Court judges to impose sentences of community service instead of prison time. This will allow men to maintain contact with their children and hopefully earn the money to pay for their upkeep. Other Cabinet decisions involve modernisation of the National Library Service, approval of four development concessions and endorsement of a five percent tax on imported plastic packaging. The money will be placed in a special fund to develop a national solid waste management programme.