Plans are under way to expand the country’s animal tagging programme to include small ruminants. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, provided an update on the National Animal Identification and Traceability System while piloting the Agricultural Produce (Amendment) Act, 2023 in the Senate, recently. As a means of combatting praedial larceny, the Government...

The Agricultural Produce (Amendment) Act, which will facilitate the imposition of harsher penalties for praedial larceny, was passed in the Senate on Friday (December 15). The maximum fine for breaches under the law will now move from $250,000 or three months in prison, to $3million or three years in prison. In piloting the legislation, Leader of Government Business in the...

The Senate, on Friday (November 3), passed the Copyright (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2023. The legislation was piloted by Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill. In his remarks, Senator Hill said an amendment to the Act is required because the Regulations to accompany the legislation are not yet in place. He stated that the Copyright...

The Bail Act 2023, which will repeal and replace the existing legislation of 2000, was approved with one amendment by the Senate during its sitting on Friday (October 6). The new law will permit the granting of bail at three stages – pre-charge, post charge and post-conviction – in defined cases. It was reviewed by a Joint Select Committee of...

The late R. Danvers “Danny” Williams was hailed as a nation-builder and visionary by members of the Upper House during its sitting at Gordon House on September 29. The former businessman, philanthropist, Senator and Cabinet Minister, passed away at the age of 89 recently. Leading the tributes, Deputy President of the Senate, Charles Sinclair, described Mr. Williams as a true...

The Senate on Friday (September 29) passed the Child Care and Protection (Amendment) Act, to bring an end to locking up children who have not committed a criminal offence but who have been deemed uncontrollable. Amendment of the Act includes the repeal of Section 24 (2), which will enable Jamaica to become compliant with obligations under notable international treaties on...

The Government has made significant progress in establishing the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the National Identification and Registration Inspectorate (NIRI). Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, informed that completion of the NIRA and NIRI organisation design approvals is far advanced. “The Government intends to put in...

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, has said that work on the national broadband initiatives saw significant advancement during the 2022/2023 fiscal year. Senator Johnson Smith informed that the emergency fibre-optic ring achieved almost 90 per cent completion, and approximately 118 additional public educational institutions were connected via the fibre-optic ring during the...

The Standing Orders of the Senate have been amended to include the Terms of Reference for the Caucus of Women Parliamentarians to give effect to its constitution and duties. The motion was approved during the sitting of the Upper House on (June 30). Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, said the role of...