The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, July 9, passed legislation to provide harsher penalties for the crime of human trafficking and to expand the list of offences under the law. Under the amendments to the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Suppression and Punishment) Act, convicted persons can be imprisoned for up to 20 years, with provision for the court to impose...

A Joint Select Committee of Parliament has been established to consider and report on the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) Act 2013. Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, made the announcement during the sitting of the House of Representatives on July 2. He noted that the creation of a Committee was “a condition of Cabinet when it approved...

Approximately $5 billion (US$50 million) is to be expended over the next four years on interventions in communities across Jamaica, as the Ministry of National Security launches the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) III. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting, who provided details during his recent Sectoral presentation, said this third phase of the crime and violence-prevention initiative will be...

National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting, is warning corrupt public officials and professionals, who help to facilitate the illicit activities of criminal kingpins, that they will feel the force of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force (MOCA). In his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 19, Minister Bunting noted that the...

The Government is receiving interest from at least two reputable companies to enter into a public/private partnership to build a modern adult correctional facility. “The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) has been tasked to manage this process, and I’m hopeful that we will make some tangible progress on this issue during this year,” said Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter...

The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Anti-Corruption Branch last year, arrested and charged 51 of its members, as it continues to weed out corrupt members within its ranks. A total of 91 persons were charged, with the remaining 40 persons being civilians. National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting, who made the revelation while contributing to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the...

Jamaica has been upgraded from the United States (US) State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 2. The adjustment is contained in the State Department’s 2013 Trafficking in Persons report. Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, who made the disclosure   yesterday (June 19), during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives,...

As at June 15, murders in the parish of Manchester were down 50 per cent when compared to the corresponding period last year. This was disclosed by Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, yesterday (June 19), during his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives. Mr. Bunting, who is also Member of Parliament for Central...

National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting, says the long-awaited Criminal Justice (Suppression of Organised Criminal Groups) Act is slated to be tabled in Parliament as early as next week. Making his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 19, Mr. Bunting announced that the Legislative Committee of Cabinet has approved the Bill. He further informed...