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The legal profession needs to take some responsibility in the efforts to achieve a better justice system for the country. This challenge was thrown out to practising lawyers by Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, during his presentation at a ‘Meet the Ministers Power Breakfast’ forum, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, on April 26. The...

The Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting and Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, are to participate in a private sector led ‘Power Breakfast’ were they will have open dialogue with leaders of the business community on a range of issues affecting the sector. The meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday (April 26) at the Pegasus hotel in...

Several measures, aimed at addressing the backlog of court cases, are being undertaken by the Ministry of Justice. Details of these measures, which will also improve the effectiveness of the police in bringing criminals to justice, were outlined by portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, during a recent media briefing hosted by National Security Ministry, Hon. Peter Bunting, at...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, has informed that certain measures will be implemented to improve the efficiency of the courts. He explained that the Government is looking at some cases, for example, small civil claims, which could be dealt with by Justices of the Peace (JPs). In an interview with JIS News, the Minister said that similarly,...

The Ministry of Justice, under the leadership of portfolio Minister, Senator Hon. Mark Golding, has pushed a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening the justice system over the last 100 days. Among the measures undertaken was the opening of four restorative justice centres in the communities of Tower Hill, Kingston; Spanish Town, St. Catherine; May Pen, Clarendon; and Granville, St....

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, says reform of the public sector pension system is critical to development and for government to enter into any new agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He was addressing a cocktail reception held Sunday April 22 at the Half Moon Royal Pavilion in Montego Bay, as part of a conference organised...

Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, says priority will be given to the passage of legislations supporting the progress which has been made in national security, particularly the reduction in crime and violence. “There is an aspect of what the Ministry does, which is very complementary and synergistic to what the National Security Ministry is seeking to do. And,...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, says the recently published, 'The Decision to Prosecute: A Jamaican Protocol', by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), speaks to the supreme importance of transparency in Jamaica’s justice system. In his remarks at the official launch of the document at the Norman Manley Law School, at the University of...

Senior Resident Magistrate Vivene Harris was on April 10 sworn in as puisne judge in the Supreme Court at a ceremony held at King’s House. The appointment comes as government continues to put measures in place to improve access to justice for Jamaicans and to advance clearing up of the backlog of cases in the island’s courts. In accepting her...

Chief Justice, Hon. Zaila McCalla, says progress is being made in the justice system to clear the backlog of cases, but this is not being properly reported in the media, as oftentimes the figures quoted are not up to date. Speaking at the swearing in ceremony of Mrs. Vivene Harris as a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court, at King’s...

Claimants awaiting awards in court cases over lengthy periods will soon be able to benefit from interim payments from defendants. This is being made possible through the drafting of legislation, which will give Supreme Court judges the authority to make Orders for interim payments in such circumstances as specified by the court.  Announcing that Cabinet had issued drafting instructions, Minister...

The late Hon. Carl Rattray, O.J., former attorney, judge, and parliamentarian, has been hailed as a “celebrated Caribbean legal mind” and “a remarkable son of Jamaica."  He is considered by many, a heroic figure who made a significant contribution to Jamaica, through his constant and dedicated pursuit of justice.    Undoubtedly, he has left an indelible mark on the local...