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Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding (centre), shares a light moment with (from left): Chief Justice Hon. Zalia McCalla; Canadian High Commissioner, His Excellency Robert Ready; Senior Director for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), Dr. Gail Miller; and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Carol Palmer. Occasion was the Justice Undertakings for Social Transformation (JUST) programme partnership breakfast meeting, held yesterday (Sept. 24), at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston.

Canada Commits to Supporting Justice Reforms

Canadian High Commissioner, His Excellency Robert Ready, has pledged the continued commitment of the Canadian Government to Jamaica’s justice reform goals. He gave the commitment, while addressing the Justice Undertakings for Social Transformation (JUST) programme partnership breakfast meeting held yesterday...

Chief Justice, Hon. Zalia McCalla (left), has the attention of (from 2nd left) Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Carol Palmer; Executive Director of the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), Michael Tucker; Representative of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Jamaica, Jeanelle Van GlaanenWeygel; and Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Maureen Irons-Morgan. Occasion was the opening ceremony of the Drug Treatment Court training workshop on September 18, at the Hilton Rose Hall Hotel in Montego Bay.

Drug Court Offers Second Chance to Offenders

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn (right), peruses a document while participating in a Criminal Justice Seminar at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on September 18. Beside Ms. Llewellyn is Director of Public Prosecutions, England and Wales, Alison Saunders.

DPP Implores Jamaicans to Assist in the Fight Against Crime

Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), who participated in Tuesday’s (September 16) opening ceremony for the 2014 Michaelmas Term of the Home Circuit Court, march past the building housing three additional courtrooms in Justice Square, at the intersection of Kings and Barry Streets, downtown Kingston.

Three Additional Courtrooms Open at Justice Square

Acting Public Defender, Matonda Mukulu, addresses the Jamaica Employers’ Federation (JEF) breakfast meeting, held at the Knutsford Court hotel in New Kingston, on September 16.

Acting Public Defender Calls for Review of Parole Act

Executive Director of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities, Christine Hendricks.

12 years ago Justice

Public Education Central to Disabilities Act

Public education will play a significant role in getting Jamaicans ready for the full implementation of the National Disabilities Act. Executive Director of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), Christine Hendricks, told JIS News that several tactics will be employed to ensure that the Act is understood by Jamaicans, especially the disabled. “There will be a lot of...

Administrator General, Lonla Brown (centre), shares a moment with students, who were presented with school supplies at a ceremony held on Friday (Aug. 29), at the AGD downtown Kingston offices.

12 years ago Justice

Students Receive School Supplies from Administrator-General’s Department

The Administrator-General’s Department (AGD) has provided educational supplies to 23 deserving students. The students, who performed excellently in this year’s Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), were presented with the items on Friday, August 29, at a function held at the AGD’s downtown Kingston offices. Eighteen of the recipients...

The three Commissioners who will preside over the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry were sworn in on Friday August 29, 2014 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. The Commissioners who took the Oath of Office before former Chief Justice of Jamaica, Hon. Mr. Justice Lensley Wolfe, (ret’d) OJ, JP, are: Chairman, Retired Chief Justice and former Attorney General of Barbados Sir David Simmons; Retired Judge of the Court of Appeal of Jamaica, Mrs. Justice Hazel Harris, CD; and Director of the Institute of Criminal Justice and Security, University of the West Indies, Professor Anthony Harriott.

12 years ago CommunityJustice

West Kingston Enquiry Commissioners Sworn In

The three Commissioners who will preside over the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry were sworn in on Friday August 29, 2014 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. The Commissioners who took the Oath of Office before former Chief Justice of Jamaica, Hon. Mr. Justice Lensley Wolfe, (ret’d) OJ, JP, are: Chairman, Retired Chief Justice and former Attorney General of Barbados Sir...

12 years ago Justice

Legal Aid Council Assists Family of Accused in Mario Deane’s Murder

The family of Adrian Morgan, one of the persons charged in the murder of Mario Deane, has received legal assistance from the Legal Aid Council. Morgan allegedly shared a cell with Mario Deane, and was transferred to the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre on Saturday, August 9, 2014. Until that time, his family had not seen him. “The Legal Aid...

12 years ago Justice

Office of the Public Defender Extends Deadline for Essay Competition

The Office of the Public Defender (OPD) has extended the deadline for the submission of entries for the Nationwide Essay Competition from August 8 to October 3, 2014. “We have extended the deadline based on requests from our sponsors, and we have not received sufficient scripts from males. We also think it would benefit us and other applicants to have...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding (2nd left), cuts the ribbon to officially open the Morant Bay Court House in St. Thomas on July 31. Looking on (from left) are: Chief Justice, Zaila McCalla; Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Eastern St. Thomas, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson; and former Minister of Justice, Dorothy Lightbourne.

12 years ago Justice

Justice Minister Hands Over New Morant Bay Court House

The new Morant Bay Court House in St. Thomas, constructed by the Government at a cost of $45 million, was officially handed over to Chief Justice, Zaila McCalla on Thursday, July 31, by Justice Minister, Hon. Mark Golding. Located at 16 Church Street, the new building replaces the historic court house that was destroyed by fire in February 2007. Since...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding (right), engages Acting Head of Human Rights, Commonwealth Secretariat, Karen McKenzie (2nd right); Ombudsman of Namibia, John Walters (3rd right); Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Mr. Albert Edwards (left) and Head of the Justice Reform Unit in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Donna Parchment- Brown, at the first dialogue session of the Government of Jamaica and the Commonwealth Secretariat on the establishment of a National Human Rights Institution, in compliance with the Paris Principles.

12 years ago Justice

Jamaica Takes Steps to Establish National Human Rights Institution

The Government has started dialogue with the Commonwealth Secretariat for the establishment of a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) compliant with the Paris Principles. The Paris Principles are a set of guiding standards which form the framework for the establishment of NHRIs. These principles were drafted at an international workshop in Paris, France in 1991, and were adopted by the...