The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is seeking to increase penalties for praedial larceny and also provide a strong deterrent against the scourge. This was disclosed by portfolio Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, during Tuesday’s (November 4) sitting of the House of Representatives. He was responding to questions posed by Opposition Spokesperson on Agriculture, J.C. Hutchinson, on what measures are being...

The Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2014, which provides for the registration, regulation and funding of political parties, was passed by the House of Representatives on October 14. Passage of the Bill deals with the registration of political parties and the procedures for registering, refusal of and objection to applications for registration; and the proceedings for deregistration of registered...

The Government began negotiations with Terminal Link Consortium on October 14, regarding privatisation of the Kingston Container Terminal (KCT). Terminal Link Consortium is jointly owned by CMA CGM and China Merchant Marine. This was disclosed by Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, in a Statement to the House of Representatives on October 14. The Minister...

The Disaster Risk Management Act, which seeks to strengthen the country’s overall national disaster preparedness, emergency management and response processes and mechanisms, was passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, October 7. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, noted that the Bill reflects modern, strategic, administrative and legal approaches consistent with current best practices. “It...

The House of Representatives, on October 7, passed the Insolvency Act, which seeks to consolidate the law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, receiverships, provisional supervision and winding up. The legislation repeals the Bankruptcy Act, and matters connected with, or incidental to that Act, including the amendment of the Companies Act. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, said the...

Debate has started on the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2014, which provides for the registration, regulation and funding of political parties. Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, who opened the debate during Tuesday’s (September 30) sitting of the House of Representatives, said that the Bill seeks to make “new ground” on party registration and...

The Government has commenced the process of entrenching local governance in Jamaica’s Constitution, with the tabling of the Constitution (Amendment) (Local Government) Act. The Bill was tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, September 30, by Leader of Government Business in the Lower House, Hon. Phillip Paulwell. The legislation is in keeping with recommendations made in the August 1993...

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday September 30, passed the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) Act, paving the way for the removal of criminal records against the names of persons convicted for possession of, or smoking small quantities of ganja. The Bill also removes the additional rehabilitation period prescribed in the Act (1988) and adjusts the rehabilitation period prescribed...