The Bill to amend the Counties and Parishes Act 2025 to declare the city municipality of Portmore the 15th parish of Jamaica, and for connected matters, was tabled in the Senate on Friday (February 21). Three other Bills were also tabled. They are an Act to amend the Bretton Woods Agreement Act 2025 to exempt locally recruited employees of the...

Three new members were sworn into the Upper House on Thursday (February 13). Senators Dr. Elon Thompson, Marlon Morgan and Delano Seiveright, took the Oath of Allegiance, during a brief sitting of the Senate, which followed the delivery of the Throne Speech to open the 2025/26 Parliamentary Year. After taking the oath, they were welcomed by President of the Senate,...

Government Senator, Kavan Gayle, is calling for safeguards to be established to protect the rights of workers who are engaged in the gig economy. In the gig economy, instead of long-term employment, workers are typically engaged on short-term projects or jobs. Closing the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate recently, Mr. Gayle explained that the gig economy is...

The Administration will continue to implement critical policies that will improve the lives of Jamaicans, says Government Senator, Abka Fitz-Henley. Making his contribution to the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday (January 31), he said the Government, led by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is committed to prioritising the interest of the people...

The Government is strengthening monitoring and enforcement of critical pieces of legislation to safeguard the environment. Speaking in the Upper House on Friday (January 24), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, said that the measures are being undertaken through the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation in collaboration with National Environment and...

The Senate has approved amendments to the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Act and the Wild Life Protection Act to allow for an increase in fines and related custodial sentences for offences. Piloting the legislative measures in the Upper House on Friday (January 24), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, said they will...

Rising online consumption among adolescents has prompted a call by one Government Senator for parents and guardians to set guidelines to safeguard their children and ensure they behave responsibly in the digital space. Dr. Saphire Longmore emphasised this as imperative in light of the fact that the youngsters’ extensive engagements within the virtual space, “can be [potentially] dangerous for them.”...