The Portland Parish Court hosted its Bail Symposium in Byron Bay, Portland, on Tuesday (March 10), under the theme ‘Understanding Bail: Your Rights, Your Responsibilities’. Community members, along with key stakeholders and students from several high schools, gathered for the informative session, which provided valuable insights into the bail process, including the legal procedures involved and the rights and responsibilities...

The Government is moving to increase the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods in the new financial year as a means of peacefully settling disputes. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Delroy Chuck, made the disclosure during the meeting of the Standing Finance Committee at Gordon House on March 5. ADR methods, which include restorative justice, conciliation and...

The Judiciary is working to increase trial capacity in Westmoreland, following significant damage to court infrastructure during the passage of Hurricane Melissa last October. Chief Justice, Bryan Sykes, said that repairs are being done to the Family Court and steps are being taken to convert a building to house the Parish Court. He said the move will ensure that “persons...

The Government has allocated $164 million for the construction of the Hanover Justice Centre in Sandy Bay, which will provide restorative justice, child diversion, and mediation services. This is contained in the 2026/27 Estimates of Expenditure, which was tabled in the House of Representatives on February 12 by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams. The project...

Justices of the Peace (JPs) are being called upon to be the first line of defence against crime in their communities by providing information to the police and using their influence to deter violent behaviour. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Romeo Henry, who made the call, said that information is the lifeblood of policing. “We are not in the community...

Twenty-eight new Justices of the Peace (JPs) have been commissioned to serve in Portland, bringing the total number of JPs in the parish to 308. During the commissioning ceremony on Thursday (February 19) at Hotel Tim Bamboo in Port Antonio, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Delroy Chuck, urged the newly commissioned JPs to ensure that they are well...

A total of 50 cases of sexual harassment complaints has, so far, been referred to the Sexual Harassment Tribunal. Principal Director of the Bureau of Gender Affairs (BGA), Sharon Coburn Robinson, made the disclosure during a recent presentation to the Caucus of Women Parliamentarians at Gordon House. “Of the cases that we've had so far, most of them have come...