Three Bills, which seek to make the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Jamaica’s final appellate Court, by replacing the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, were tabled in the Upper House on Friday (May 22). The Caribbean Court of Justice Act, the Constitution (Amendment) (Caribbean Court of Justice) Act, and the Judicature (Appellate Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Act, 2012, were tabled by...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, says the appeals process to be carried out by a new entity to be established by the Government, will be a “win-win” undertaking for taxpayers. “It is an administrative procedure which many taxpayers benefit from already, and will continue to use,” Senator Golding said, as he closed the debate on the Revenue...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Honourable Mark Golding, while addressing a United Nations General Assembly High-level Thematic Debate on the World Drug Problem on Thursday, May 7, told the world body that experience over the past decades has taught that the world drug problem has multi-faceted implications, and that past approaches, including the so-called “War on Drugs”, have not achieved...

National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting, says amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act, resulting in decriminalization of specified quantities of ganja, are “most fundamental and far-reaching.” He underscored this point while addressing a community meeting in Orange Hill, Western Westmoreland, on May 8, to discuss the provisions of the new ganja legislation. Mr. Bunting noted that for “decades”, the possession...

Proposed changes to how computer-generated evidence is introduced in court are expected to significantly reduce delays and costs associated with this procedure. The adjustments are contained in the Evidence (Amendment) Bill, 2014, which was passed in the Senate on Friday (May 8) with 10 amendments. The Bill seeks to enhance the efficiency of Jamaica’s justice system, by providing a simpler...

The development of legislation in Jamaica is expected to be vastly improved, as those involved in the process will be provided with a new Legislative Policy Manual to guide them. Currently at the draft stage, the manual, developed by the Ministry of Justice through the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, will help to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the...

Public sector professionals responsible for the drafting of legislation are being urged to carry out this duty with the utmost rigour and diligence. The charge comes from Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, who said that there is no place for “intellectual laziness and sloppiness” in the country’s legislative development process. “There is no escaping it – legislative...