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The Government is to implement a raft of reforms, to modernise and eliminate some of the anomalies and processes that exist in the laws governing the administration of estates for deceased persons. This will address the delay in the bequeathing of estates, enhance efficiency, and free up assets to make them productive for the families involved. Speaking at at a...

The Senate has approved legislation to impose harsher penalties for the crime of human trafficking, and to expand the list of offences under the law. Under the amendments to the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Suppression and Punishment) Act, convicted persons can be imprisoned for up to 20 years, with provision for the court to impose an additional 10 years if...

The Senate, on Friday (June 21), approved a Bill to facilitate Jamaica’s acceptance into the Egmont Group. The Egmont Group provides a forum for Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) around the world, to improve co-operation in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing; and to foster the implementation of domestic programmes in this regard. The Bill, which amended the Financial...

The Government has established a shelter for the care and protection of victims of human trafficking, as part of initiatives to address issues relating to the crime in Jamaica. The shelter, which has been operational since March 2013, can hold up to 10 persons and has been refurbished and furnished at a cost of approximately $3.2 million. The National Task...

Jamaicans are being implored to take care of the country’s seniors and report cases of abuse or neglect. The appeal comes from the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) as the country prepares to observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15 under the theme ‘Shine a Light’. Executive Director of the NCSC, Charmaine Muirhead,told JIS News that...

Cabinet is to consider a submission for the establishment of a Municipal Court and enhancement of the Municipal Police Force (MPF). This was disclosed by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, during his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate on June 11, in the House of Representatives. He informed that a joint submission from his Ministry...

The Senate on Friday (May 24), passed a Bill making provisions for harmonising the treatment of charitable organisations for the purpose of taxation. The legislation seeks to harmonise the various tax statutes, and provide standard definitions for the terms “approved charitable organisation” and “charitable purposes” for tax use. It also amends the Customs Act, the General Consumption Act, the Income...

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...