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Debate on the six crime Bills was postponed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 15) as the Government and the Opposition agreed to hold talks to arrive at a "workable agreement" on the legislation. "I think it is the feeling of the House that this would be the best position. Given the controversial nature of the Bills, this...

The Protected Disclosure Bill, which seeks to encourage and facilitate specified disclosures of improper conduct in the public interest and to protect employees who make the specified disclosures, was tabled in the Senate, today (June 11). The Bill was tabled by Minister of Justice and Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne. According to the Memorandum of...

Member of Parliament for Eastern St. Andrew, Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett, has urged Opposition members of the House to work with the Government, in order to pass the six anti-crime Bills currently before Parliament, aimed at stamping out crime and violence in the society. Addressing the House of Representatives on June 9 in the debate on the Bills, Dr. Bartlett...

Cabinet has approved draft proposals for the introduction of legislation for the suppression and disruption of criminal gangs and their activities. The announcement was made by Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Tuesday (June 9). He noted that the legislation will provide for the issuing...

As the government intensifies efforts to stamp out crime, regulations governing plea bargaining were approved by the House of Representatives yesterday (June 8). The passage of the regulations, as well as amendments to the legal aid regulations, will give teeth to the Criminal Justice (Plea Negotiations and Agreements) Act, which was passed in November 2005, and provide a clear and...

The House of Representatives has begun debating the report from the Joint Select Committee of Parliament on the six anti-crime Bills, for which the Government has been seeking approval since 2008. The Bills are: an Act to amend the Bail Act; an Act to further amend the Firearms Act; an Act to amend the Offences Against the Person Act; an...

The Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding, and members of the Cabinet were among mourners attending the funeral of former Minister of Health and Chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Dr. Herbert Eledmire, in Montego Bay on Friday (May 28). Dr. Eldemire died peacefully at his home in Reading on Thursday, May 20, after A brief illness, at age...

The Police today (May 27) revealed that the bodies of some 73 civilians have been recovered from the West Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens following the recent battle between members of the nation's security forces and gunmen. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) with Responsibility for Operations, Glenmore Hinds, informed members of the local and international press gathered at a special...

Cabinet is to meet at 5:00 p.m. today (May 26), to be fully updated on the activities that have taken place over the past 24 hours in the joint police/military operation in West Kingston. Speaking at a press briefing at Jamaica House today, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said Cabinet would also deliberate...

Regulations governing the application of emergency powers were approved by Cabinet Tuesday (May 25) and will be tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 1, 2010. The regulations require the establishment of an Emergency Powers Review Tribunal to review cases of detention or restoration. The Tribunal shall be appointed by the Chief Justice and two other members appointed...

Governor General His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen has signed off on the regulations that will govern the current period of public emergency that was declared Sunday May 23. The Jamaican Constitution requires that once a state of emergency is imposed, regulations be published detailing the powers of the authorities and the restrictions that apply to citizens. The...

At its May 3 meeting, Cabinet approved a proposal from the state-owned refinery, Petrojam Limited, to grant haulage contractors an interim rate increase, using the current rates paid by PETCOM as a basis. Minister of Information with Responsibility for Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, informed journalists at today's (May 12) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, that Cabinet...