The Senate debate on the Arbitration Bill has been deferred to facilitate a review of the proposed amendments by Opposition members. The Bill is intended to repeal and replace the Arbitration Act of 1900 by providing an effective non-judicial mechanism for settling disputes between contracting parties. It is based on the guidelines of the Model Law published by the United...

The ceremonial opening of Parliament takes place on Thursday (February 9) at Gordon House in Kingston, with the traditional pomp and pageantry. This event, which marks the beginning of the 2017-18 legislative year, will get underway at 11:00 a.m. The opening will be highlighted by the delivery of the Throne Speech by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick...

The House of Representatives on January 31 approved the Integrity Commission Bill, which is aimed at promoting and enhancing standards of ethical conduct for parliamentarians and public officials. The Bill provides for the establishment of a single body to be known as the Integrity Commission, to promote and strengthen the measures for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of acts...

PUBLIC NOTICE - A Joint Select Committee of Parliament has been appointed to review the “Sexual Offences Act”. This Joint Select Committee will also review the “Child Care and Protection Act”, the “Domestic Violence Act”, the “Offences against the Person Act” and the offences and punishment under these Acts, placing special emphasis on the protection of the vulnerable (women, children,...

The Estimates of Expenditure for the 2017/18 financial year will be tabled in the House of Representatives on Thursday, February 9. This was disclosed by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw during his presentation on the first Supplementary Estimates for 2016/17 in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (January 17). He informed that he will be...

Cabinet has given approval for a Bill to be tabled in Parliament detailing how the boundaries of Local Government city municipalities are to be altered. Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on January 11, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said the Bill, which dictates the relationship between the municipalities and the...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says an additional $200 million will be provided to the islandwide mitigation programme, which will go towards the patching and repairing of the road network. In a statement to the House of Representatives on December 7, the Prime Minister said the funds will be provided through the Tourism Enhancement Fund and the Road...