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Member of Parliament for South Western St. Ann, Ernest Smith, has expressed the view that the proposed Sexual Offences Act should focus on protecting minors. "Most of the victims of the vicious, violent behaviour are in fact little boys and girls, months old, up to the age of say ten. There are thousands of cases out there which have never...

Member of Parliament for Eastern Portland, Dr. Donald Rhodd, has suggested a mandatory rehabilitative programme for certain categories of sex offenders. These include persons who commit sexual assaults, attempted rape, assault with intent to rape, and child sex offences, such as maintaining sexual relationships with a child and incest. Dr. Rhodd made the recommendation during his contribution to the debate...

Minister of Energy, Clive Mullings, has lauded the aspect of the Sexual Offences Act, which provides that the sexual history of a complainant in a rape lawsuit, should not take prominence in court. Mr. Mullings, who was making his contribution to the debate on the legislation in the House of Representatives yesterday (Feb. 10), said that there have been cases...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has assured the House of Representatives that stability will return to the foreign exchange market, soon. Mr. Golding said that the Ministry of Finance and Planning and the Bank of Jamaica(BoJ), were doing everything possible to speed up the process. He gave the assurance during the monthly Prime Minister's Question Time, a new feature of Parliament...

Cabinet has approved a submission to set up a statutory body to focus on the development of a financial centre, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Senator Don Wehby,has said. A board will be announced shortly and a special consultant appointed to fast-track the necessary legislation, Senator Wehby also stated. The announcement was one...

The Senate today (Jan. 6) passed the Carriage by Air (Montreal Convention) Act 2009, thereby implementing the provisions of the Convention for the unification of certain rules for international carriage by air signed in Montreal, Canada on May 28, 1999. Leader of Government business in the Senate and Minister of Justice, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, explained that the Montreal Convention replaces...

The Electoral Commission of Jamaica, is advanced in its review of the island's electoral boundaries, and is now waiting on both Houses of Parliament to vote to amend the Constitution, to facilitate an increase in the number of constituencies. Chairman of the ECJ, Professor Errol Miller, said that the way is now clear for the Senate and the House of...

A report for the entrenchment of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) in the Constitution, has been submitted to Parliament, ECJ Chairman, Professor Errol Miller, has advised. Addressing journalists at a media briefing at the organisation's New Kingston offices on Wednesday (Feb. 4), Professor Miller said the submission was a move towards fulfilling a commitment by the ECJ's predecessor, the...

Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), Professor Errol Miller, is expressing confidence in the ability of the current management of the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ), to advance the ECJ's work. A new Director of Elections, Orrett Fisher, was selected from a pool of applicants to fill the position, previously held by Danville Walker, current Commissioner of Customs....

The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) on Wednesday (Feb. 4), paid tribute to the life and work of late former Parliamentarian, and Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) member, Ryan Peralto. Mr. Peralto, who passed away on January 23 after a brief illness, served as a member of the defunct EAC for 15 of the organisation's 27 years of existence. "Although he...

Cabinet has approved the programme and budget associated with the official visit to Jamaica of Vice President of the People's Republic of China, His Excellency, Xi Jinping, who will be in the island from February 11 to February 14. This is at the behest of Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, said Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange at...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, has announced that the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Christopher Tufton, will be presenting to Cabinet on Monday, a submission identifying alternatives that will be considered for the future divestment of the sugar industry. Mr. Golding was speaking this afternoon (Jan 30) at a press conference at Jamaica House, called to report on the status of the...