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Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, has informed that the Government is compiling a "realistic" legislative programme for the remainder of the 2011/12 fiscal year, as well as the 2012/13 financial year. In a statement in the Senate, on February 24, Mr. Golding said that Bills which were tabled by the last Government, but not passed, and Bills...

The long awaited Municipal Court system to deal with parochial matters, will be introduced across the island soon. According to Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, the move to establish municipal courts, although being part of the Local Government process, is being done under a wider Justice Reform Programme, to establish specialised courts. “The Ministry has...

The Government has begun initial discussions regarding Jamaica’s transition to republican status. Minister with responsibility for Information, Hon. Sandrea Falconer, made the disclosure on February 15 Jamaica House press briefing. She said the talks are being led by the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General’s Department, spearheaded by a Ministerial Committee, which is to make recommendations to Cabinet before...

Thousands of residents from Montego Bay, St. James and the wider western Jamaica  have been sensitised about the offerings of the Justice Ministry and all its associated agencies and departments, and  provided with  information about their basic rights and responsibilities. This  was  done  at two  Justice Fairs  staged concurrently by the  Ministry of Justice, at the Montego Bay Civic Centre...

Chief Justice, the Hon. Zaila McCalla, said the judiciary fully embraces the move by Government to introduce restorative justice principles within the justice system. The Ministry of Justice is looking to apply the concept to the local court system, and is currently carrying out a pilot programme in four communities: Tower Hill, St. Andrew; Spanish Town, St. Catherine; May Pen,...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding says it is important for Jamaicans to adopt a culture of tolerance and healing, as the country celebrates its 50th year of Independence from Colonial rule. He explained that part of the aim of the Restorative Justice Programme is to help Jamaicans who have been perpetrators of crime or victims of crime,...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, said that the Ministry is in the process of reforming the justice system in an effort to provide Jamaicans with greater access to justice. “The reform process requires a collaborative approach to enable the justice system to have a significant role in not only responding to, but helping to shape the requisite...

Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, said that a draft of the proposed Restorative Justice Policy is to be submitted to Cabinet within the next few weeks, for consideration. Speaking with JIS News, following the official opening of the May Pen Restorative Justice Centre in Clarendon on Tuesday (February 7), Senator Golding informed that work on the policy, which...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, is calling on the nation to embrace the restorative justice approach in resolving conflicts, to maintain a peaceful and just society.  In a speech read by Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, during a civic ceremony at Emancipation Square, Spanish Town, St. Catherine on Wednesday (February 8) the...

The second of four restorative justice centres, earmarked under a pilot project being undertaken by the Ministry of Justice in communities across the island, was officially opened on February 7 in May Pen, Clarendon. Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, opened the centre, located at premises owned by the Social Development Commission (SDC). On Monday (Feb. 6), a similar...

The first  Restorative Justice Centre  was opened in Tower Hill,  West Central St. Andrew, on February 6. This is the first of four restorative justice centres to be opened in the island as part of the Ministry of the Justice’s thrust to implement alternative dispute resolution programmes that promote social cohesion. At a ceremony to mark the opening, held at...

The historic journey taken by National Hero, Paul Bogle from Stony Gut in St. Thomas to Spanish Town, St. Catherine in 1865, will be re-enacted in a “justice run” being organised by the Ministry of Justice. The event, to be held on Wednesday (February 8), is part of activities by the Ministry to observe the year-long ‘Jamaica 50’ celebrations, and...