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Prime Minister Bruce Golding has named Attorney-at-Law Ransford Braham as the new Attorney General who will serve in the position with that office separated from the Ministerial portfolio of Justice. Explaining the decision to separate the responsibilities, Prime Minister Golding said he had done so based on the very strong recommendations of the recently concluded Manatt Commission of Enquiry. He pointed out that the Attorney General does not...

KINGSTON — Attorney-at-Law, Dr. Lloyd Barnett, has described the provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms Bill, as a "big improvement" on the previous Constitutional entitlements of Jamaican citizens. The Charter Bill was debated and passed in the House of Representatives and Senate, during the closing weeks of the 2010/11 legislative year. It repeals and replaces Chapter Three...

LONDON — Jamaica’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), His Excellency Anthony Johnson, has hailed Wednesday's (May 18) ruling by the British Court of Appeal to allow a new trial into the 1993 murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence. Mr. Johnson said he hoped that Stephen’s parents, Neville and Doreen Lawrence, both of whom are Jamaican, could take comfort from...

KINGSTON — A $15.3 million contract has been signed by the Ministry of Justice for the construction of a pedestrian bridge to connect the Supreme Court building to the old National Commercial Bank (NCB) complex on Barry Street, in downtown Kingston, which is being rehabilitated to provide more court rooms and space for judges. The contract was signed yesterday, at...

MONTEGO BAY — Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, has invited commentary from regional prosecutors now meeting in Montego Bay, on Jamaica's planned move to establish a special prosecutor’s office, through a Bill now before Parliament. The special prosecutor will be empowered under the provisions of the law to investigate and prosecute corrupt high-level public and private officials. “We are...

KINGSTON — Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne, says that Government will continue to pursue an aggressive legislative agenda as it seeks to increase access to justice for Jamaicans. She cited the recent passage of the long-delayed Charter of Rights Bill, which aims to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, as evidence of the...

KINGSTON – Consultant Adviser to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Marcia Beverley, was called back to the witness chair as the Commission of Enquiry into the extradition of Christopher “Dudus” Coke continued at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston on Tuesday March 22). Under cross examination by Attorney-at-Law, Lord Anthony Gifford, who is representing the Office of...

KINGSTON – Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, has stated that she sought independent counsel in the extradition of Christopher Coke, due to views in civil society and political circles. The Minister, who was giving her testimony Wednesday March 16 at the Commission of Enquiry into the extradition of Mr. Coke, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown...

The Chief Justice, the Hon Zaila McCalla, has underscored the need for a ‘child friendly’ justice system, guaranteeing effective implementation of children’s rights provisions, at the highest possible level. She contended that this was necessary to ensure that proceedings, involving children, conform to the requirements of relevant international instruments to which Jamaica is party or signatory. She was addressing Thursday’s...

Justice Minister and Attorney General, Senator the Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne has maintained that she followed due process in the handling of the extradition request for Christopher Coke. She said that she did not treat the case any differently from similar extradition requests that have come before her office for consideration. The Minister was being cross examined by People’s National Party...

Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Senator Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne, returned to the witness chair yesterday March 7 as the Commission of Enquiry into the extradition of Christopher “Dudus” Coke continued at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston. Under cross examination from Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) lead attorney, Frank Phipps, Miss Lightbourne testified that her increased concern over a possible...

A Bill to establish the Jamaica International Financial Services Authority, for the promotion and development of Jamaica as a Centre for International Financial Services, was passed in the Senate on March 4. Minister of Justice and Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, who piloted the Bill,  explained that the Authority will market and promote Jamaica as...