The Ministry of Justice is expected to have an accurate count of the number of documented criminal cases within the court system by early next year. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, said that a statistician has been recruited to collate the figures, which will be captured under a statistics and data management system. He said the move is being facilitated...

Children’s Advocate, Diahann Gordon-Harrison, is calling for an effective and responsive system of care that protects children from sexual and other forms of abuse. She is also urging parents and adults to encourage children to confide in them by fostering a close, trusting relationship. Mrs. Gordon-Harrison was addressing a Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Training Workshop, hosted by the Women’s...

Prosecutors and law-enforcement officers from more than 24 countries in the Caribbean, United States, Canada, and Europe are in the island for the fourth annual International Association of Prosecutors North American and Caribbean Regional Conference. The three-day conference is being held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St. James, and the participants will discuss topics relating to...

The Honourable House is being asked to note that an Arbitration Bill will shortly be laid before Parliament. The Bill seeks to repeal and replace the Arbitration Act 1900 with more modern legislation that is intended to provide an effective non-judicial mechanism for settling disputes between contracting parties. The Arbitration Bill is based on the provisions of the Model Law...

The West Kingston Commission Incursion Compensation Committee (“the Compensation Committee”) invites affected residents of Western Kingston including Tivoli Gardens to submit claims for compensation relating to: 1. Loss and Damages to property and business; 2. Personal injuries; and/or 3. Death as a result of the May 2010 West Kingston Incursion. The Compensation Committee will review all claims, determine any amount...

Debate on the Children (Guardianship and Custody) (Amendment) Act began in the House of Representatives on November 1. The Bill seeks to give effect to the Government’s decision to enact legislation to implement the terms of the 1980 Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and to facilitate Jamaica’s accession to it. The Hague Convention aims to protect...

Members of the public are invited to the opening ceremony of the fourth annual International Association of Prosecutors North American and Caribbean Regional Conference on November 3. The conference, being held from November 2 to 4 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St. James, will seek to address current and future challenges to tackling cybercrime and organised...