Debate on the Plea Negotiations and Agreement Act, 2017, which provides for a system of plea bargaining for persons who commit crimes, was suspended in the Senate on Friday, May 26. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, explained that this was due to concerns raised by Senators on certain sections of the Bill....

The Attorney General’s Department has proposed several legislative and policy measures for consideration by the Government regarding Jamaica’s implementation of the Paris Agreement, which relates to climate-change adaptation and mitigation. Attorney General, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, says this is based on the fact that the commitments of the parties to the Agreement relating to reducing emissions “are, strictly speaking, of...

The Attorney General’s Chambers will be reorganised and expanded with the creation of three additional Deputy Solicitor General posts, moving from two to five. Each Deputy Solicitor General will head a specialist division and manage a number of the legal service units of the line ministries. Legal officers in those ministries and their departments and agencies will become part of...

Justice Minister Honourable Delroy Chuck is seeking to increase the number of Notaries Public operating In Jamaica. The Justice Minister made the commitment during a recent meeting at the Ministry of Justice with representatives of the Societies of Notary Public, where several concerns were highlighted. According to the Justice Minister approximately 50 Notaries Public operate island wide and this number...

Attorney General, Marlene Malahoo Forte, says improving the quality of life of the Jamaican people is at the heart of the policies being pursued by the Government to achieve sustained growth and development. “When we speak of prosperity, we are not speaking of it in abstract. Economic growth that translates in higher education, better healthcare, improved infrastructure, and improvements in...

The Administrator General’s Department (AGD) is set to complete implementation of its Trust and Estate Management System (TEMS) by end of year, which will see significant improvement in the public’s access to its services. Finance and Planning Executive of the AGD, Patrick Wright, said the software will streamline how the agency conducts business, including the administration and management of estates....

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, says the Government is committed to ensuring that Jamaica has a First-World justice system. He said focus is being placed on implementing reforms to speed up the resolution of court cases and ensure that agencies under the Ministry operate more efficiently and effectively. The Minister was addressing a training session for Justices of the...