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Chief Justice, Hon. Mrs. Justice Zaila McCalla, has highlighted the important role of the Court Management Services (CMS) in restructuring the institutional framework, through which administrative services are provided for the courts. Speaking at the CMS’ Year-in-Review conference at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston, on July 12, the Chief Justice said the CMS will work at strengthening judicial independence...

Principal Executive Officer of Court Management Services, (CMS) Deborah Gardner, has described the family court as a “beacon of hope,” offering opportunities for growth and development. She noted that not only does the court “execute the aspects of the law that relate to preventing family breakdown and ensuring that the welfare of children is protected, but also provides social services...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, says he intends to bring to Cabinet for its approval, a policy framework to allow the transfer certain ganja-related cases from the Resident Magistrate’s Court (RM) to the Petty Sessions Court. “I agree in principle with the transfer of these cases to the Petty Sessions, where guilty pleas can be disposed of...

The 32 newly commissioned Justices of the Peace (JPs) for the parish of St. James, have been called upon to be standard bearers in their communities. “I call upon you, Justices of the Peace, to do everything in your powers to stem the tides of corruption and moral decay.  If you have joined the service to further corruption or to...

KINGSTON - Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, is calling on business owners to robustly invest in Jamaica to place the country on a path of sustainable growth for the next 50 years of Independence. "In an international investment climate, which is in retreat…what Jamaica really needs is for our business community to adopt an aggressive pro-investment stance...

Youth and Culture Minister, Hon. Lisa Hanna, says her Ministry has asked the Ministry of Justice to facilitate an audit and review of stipulated penalties for child abuse, outlined in laws governing the care and protection of the nation’s children. The move, she said, forms part of measures coming out of a recent meeting between both Ministries, during which representatives...

The Senate, on Friday (May 18), passed the Judicature (Supreme Court) (Validation and Amendment) Act, 2012, with two amendments, during its sitting at Gordon House. Piloted by Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, the Bill seeks to regularize certain provisions outlined in Section 441A of the now repealed Judicature (Civil Procedure Code) Law, which had empowered the Supreme Court...

Government is projecting to spend $129 million this fiscal year on initiatives under the Justice Undertakings for Social Transformation project in the Ministry of Justice. The amount is provided in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives. The project aims to provide improved service delivery and management capacity of the justice sector institutions; improve...

Chief Justice, the Honourable Mrs. Zaila McCalla, has lamented the delays within the justice system, which is causing a backlog of cases at all levels. Addressing the official handing over and opening ceremony for the Balaclava Court House, in St. Elizabeth, on Wednesday May 9, the Chief Justice acknowledged that it has long been recognised that there is a need...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, says he is encouraged by recent data, which suggest that the culture of silence that often prevents persons from reporting cases of child abuse is changing. The Minister noted that statistics from the Office of the Children’s Registry show that incidents of reporting have increased, suggesting that the “see and blind” culture,...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, has given the government’s commitment to improving the justice system, even in a climate of resource constraints. He said that the move may not involve large outlays of capital expenditure, “but involve brainwork, looking at the system that we have, how can we improve it, what are the issues that we can...

The Senate has approved amendments to the Processed Food Act and the Standards Act, to among other things, increase fines and penalties for breaches. Approval of the Bills, which were piloted by Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding through the Upper House on Friday (May 4), pave the way for offenders to be fined $3 million for offences,...