The Ceremonial Opening of the new session of Parliament will take place on Thursday, February 14, at a joint sitting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The opening, which marks the beginning of the legislative year (2019/2020), will feature the traditional delivery of the Throne Speech by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, at 11:00...

Debate on the Road Traffic Act was postponed in the Senate on Friday (November 23) to allow for public education and consultation with stakeholders. Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, who moved for the delay, said: “I beg to give notice that further amendments to the Bill shortly, entitled the Road Traffic Act 2018 be considered...

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (November 13) approved additional amendments to the Road Traffic Bill, establishing new offences as well as providing increased penalties for breaches. The amendments, piloted by Minister of Transport and Mining, Hon. Robert Montague, are in addition to the more than 160 approved by the Senate earlier this year. The legislation will now go back...

The Senate on Friday (October 19) approved the Emergency Powers (Continuance) (No.4) Resolution 2018, which will extend the State of Public Emergency (SOE) in the parish of St. James until January 31, 2019. Seventeen members of the Senate voted in favour of the Motion. There was one abstention, while three members were absent. In her remarks, Leader of Government Business...

A new Fisheries Act, aimed at further safeguarding the local sector, was passed in the Senate on October 12. The Bill, which will replace the Fishing Industry Act of 1975, will establish the legal and regulatory framework that creates the enabling environment for the sector’s sustainable growth. This includes ramping up measures to tackle poaching and unregulated fishing in Jamaican waters....

The State of Public Emergency (SOE) in sections of the Kingston Central, Kingston Western and St. Andrew South Police Divisions will continue for another three months, until January 7, 2019. This follows the unanimous approval of the Emergency Powers No. 3 (Continuance) Resolution 2018 in the Senate on Friday, October 5. On September 23, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew...

The Transport Authority (Validation and Indemnity) Act, 2016, which seeks to validate and confirm the activities of the Authority, was passed in the Senate on Friday (Sept. 28). The legislation protects the Transport Authority and every person acting on behalf of the Government from any legal action arising from the imposition and collection of fees between December 1, 1989 and...

The Telecommunications (Spectrum Regulatory Fees) (Validation and Indemnity) Act, 2018 was passed during the sitting of the Senate on Friday (September 21). The Bill seeks to, among other things, validate and indemnify the actions of the Spectrum Management Authority in increasing regulatory fees without legislative authority for the period April 1 2004 to March 22, 2017. Minister of Foreign Affairs...

Members of the Senate today (September 21) voted to extend the State of Public Emergency in the St. Catherine North Police Division for another three months. This follows approval of the Emergency Powers (No. 2) (Continuance) (No.3) Resolution, 2018, during today's sitting of the Senate. The security measure, which was slated to end on October 2, will remain in place...