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Debate on the Sexual Offences Act 2009 began in the Senate Friday (May 22), with Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne, making the opening contribution. The Bill, passed in the House of Representatives on March 31, seeks to amalgamate the various laws relating to incest and other sexual offences, and includes provision for a Sex...

Three communities are to benefit from a pilot project for the development of community justice tribunals as the Ministry of Justice presses forward with efforts towards the practice of restorative justice in Jamaica. "As a supporting mechanism, we are moving forward with the community justice tribunals and this is one of the key pledges that the government has advanced," said...

Work has commenced on a number of projects submitted by Members of Parliament (MPs) across the island for funding, under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), announced by Prime Minister Bruce Golding earlier this year. The CDF, which is funded from the national budget, provides a dedicated allocation for community development activities in each of the island's 60 political constituencies, with...

Plans for the establishment of a new body to investigate public complaints against members of the Security Forces and agents of the State took a significant step with the adoption by the Senate of the Report of the Joint Select Committee on the Independent Commission of Investigations Act, 2009. The Bill was tabled in the Senate on May 30, 2008....

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Senator the Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne, has underscored the need for greater use of Alternative Dispute Resolution, as a tool for promoting economic growth. "Delays in the resolution of conflicts, including commercial disputes, can significantly increase the cost of doing business, and consequently have a negative effect on the competitiveness of firms operating in Jamaica,"...

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, has said that the new Justice Undertakings for Social Transformation (JUST) project will strengthen the judicial system, by improving the security and protection of citizens. One area which will certainly benefit, is in the training of Justices of the Peace (JPs), who are to be given additional responsibilities and more important...

Registration for birth certificates is one of the major focusses of the opportunity fair being hosted by the Citizens' Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) in several inner city communities between April 24 and May 22. In an interview with JIS News, Community Action Officer with the Programme, Marcia Flynn outlined that, "The objectives of the opportunity fair are to legitimise...

The commitment by the Canadian Government to provide Can$18 million to strengthen Jamaica's judicial system, through the Justice Undertakings for Social Transformation (JUST) programme, has been welcomed by Justice Minister and Attorney General, Senator the Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne. On April 21, Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding, and his Canadian counterpart, the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, signed a Memorandum of...

The Canadian Government has pledged C$18 million (J$1.2 billion) to Jamaica's Justice Undertakings for Social Transformation (JUST) Programme, which was formally launched at Jamaica House today (April 21). Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding, and his Canadian counterpart, the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will see the funds being channelled into Jamaica's justice system...

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding today (April 21) secured funding for a four-year programme that will improve the effectiveness of Jamaica's justice system. He made this announcement following the signing of the Justice Undertakings for Social Transformation (JUST) Programme between himself and the Prime Minister of Canada, the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper at Jamaica House. Mr. Golding said that...

The Ministry of Justice is concerned about media reports which have raised questions about the propriety of the Government's purchase of the NCB owned property at 52-54 King Street. The Daily Gleaner of Wednesday, April 15, 2009 suggested that the Ministry had considered a "larger" NCB owned property at Harbour Street for 22 million Jamaican dollars and chosen to spend...

A Puisne Judge and two Senior Resident Magistrates, were sworn in Thursday (April 9), to act as a Court of Appeal Judge and Puisne Judges, respectively, by the Governor General, His Excellency, the Most Honourable Dr. Patrick Allen, at King's House. Justice Norma McIntosh, will act as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. His Honour, Glenworth Brown, and Her...