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Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, says a strategy has been developed to address the backlog in the nation's courts, which he intends to take to Cabinet soon. Senator Golding was responding to concerns expressed in the Senate today (April 19), during the debate on the Committal Proceedings Act. The Backlog Reduction Strategy was developed out of the...

The Government is providing $75 million this fiscal year for the strengthening of restorative justice services under the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) II. As contained in the 2013/14 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the money will go towards the retrofitting and refurbishing of three centres and the training of 2,500 agents in the delivery...

The Government has allocated $410 million for construction works under the Ministry of Justice. This is outlined in the 2013/14 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. Of the sum, $370 million will go towards the construction and improvement of courthouses; continuing Phase one construction of Justice Square; and completing renovations to a building on Hagley Park Road...

The Government has set aside a total of $58 million for the Justice Undertakings for Social Transformation (JUST) programme in the Ministry of Justice. As outlined in the 2013/14 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the project seeks to: improve service delivery and management capacity of justice sector institutions; improve capacity of Ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs)...

Three members of the legal fraternity have been designated as Queen’s Counsel (QC). They are: President of the Jamaican Bar Association, Ian G. Wilkinson; Denise E. Kitson; and Michael M. Shelton. The appointments were made by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, on the recommendation of Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller. The appointments took...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, says every Jamaican must become involved in the work of the justice system, as this is essential in building a stable society. “Justice is central to the goal of building a cohesive and civilized society (and)… essential to the goal of investment, economic growth, and development,” he stated. Senator Golding was speaking...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, says the Government will ensure that the National Housing Trust (NHT) continues to grow and flourish in the interest of the Jamaican people. He was speaking in the Senate on Friday (March 8), as he successfully piloted the National Housing Trust (Special Provisions) Act 2013 through the Upper House.   The legislation...

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will sit in Jamaica for the first time from Monday, March 4 to Friday, March 8, to hear evidence in the case of Shanique Myrie versus the state of Barbados. The sitting, which is open to the public, will be held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, says Jamaica has put forward several programmes and policies, which have significantly improved the human rights and justice landscape over the past 50 years. The strides include the right to a decent life, right to education, free speech and expression, liberty, freedom of movement and freedom from discrimination, as well as gender...

The residents of the volatile St. James community of Salt Spring will soon have another avenue through which to resolve conflict, as well as benefit form training in human development. The Jamaica Baptist Union on Thursday (Feb. 21) launched the Salt Spring Peace and Justice Centre for this purpose. The centre is located at the Salt Spring Baptist Church Hall....

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Carol Palmer, says the Government will be seeking the public's input in formulating the proposed Child Diversion Policy. "Very shortly, we will be coming to the public in a focused way to help us shape the Diversion Policy, as we seek to work with young people to prevent them getting criminal records and...

Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, has announced that legislation aimed at strengthening the Government’s Restorative Justice Programme is expected to be piloted through the Houses of Parliament during the 2013/14 financial year. Speaking at the Ministry’s restorative justice workshop, hosted at the Grand Palladium Resort and Spa in Lucea, Hanover, on Saturday, February 16, Senator Golding said legislative...