Senate Approves Parliamentary Committee Appointed to Review Bail Act, 2022

The Senate, on Friday (October 28), approved the appointment of a Special Select Committee to review the Bail Act, 2022.

The legislation, which will reform the bail framework in the criminal justice system, comprises 24 Clauses and four schedules. It will repeal and replace the existing Act of 2000.

Committee members from the Upper House are Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Leslie Campbell, and Senators Charles Sinclair, Natalie Campbell Rodriquez, Peter Bunting, and Donna Scott Mottley.

The motion was moved by Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, during the Senate’s sitting at Gordon House.

They will sit jointly with counterparts appointed by the House of Representatives, to consider and report on the Bill.

Committee Members from the Lower House are Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang; Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte; Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck; and the Members of Parliament for Kingston Central – Donovan Williams; St. Thomas Eastern – Dr. Michelle Charles; St. Catherine Southern – Fitz Jackson, and Kingston East and Port Royal – Phillip Paulwell.

The Joint Select Committee will be allowed to hold hybrid meetings, utilising available information and communications technologies.

Minister Malahoo Forte, who tabled the Bill in the House recently, said it will strike the right balance between the rights of Jamaicans and national security needs.

She further stated that it will address the matter of people being in custody without charge or trial within a reasonable time, while ensuring that persons committing serious offences are not able to threaten, intimidate or harm witnesses.