The Senate yesterday (November 10) approved amendment to the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) to correct a referencing error in the principal legislation. The Bill was amended to facilitate the substitution of the words ‘Commissioner of Lands’ for ‘Commissioner of Land Valuation’ and will give the Commissioner of Lands the power to undertake necessary action for the State to have...

The Senate, on Friday (Oct. 21), passed amendments to the National Insurance Act, during its sitting at Gordon House. The Bill, which was unanimously passed without further revisions, follows the House of Representatives’ approval of the amendments in September. This now enables the Government to administer timely adjustments of National Insurance Scheme (NIS) benefits for pensioners and other beneficiaries. A...

The Senate has approved a private member’s motion proposing a ban on the use of Styrofoam containers and plastic bags locally. The motion, which was mooted by Government Senator, Matthew Samuda, was unanimously supported following an extensive debate during Friday’s (October 7) Senate sitting at Gordon House. In opening the debate, Mr. Samuda noted that Styrofoam and plastics take an...

President of the Senate, Sen the Hon. Thomas Tavares-Finson (left), receives a petition from Mr. Steven Golding, President of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). The petition is requesting that President Barack Obama grant a Posthumous Presidential Pardon to the Rt. Excellent Marcus Garvey.

The Senate on Tuesday (May 31) passed the Appropriations Bill, which authorises the Government to spend funds allocated in the 2016/17 Budget. The $580 Billion budget was passed last Wednesday (May 25) in the House of Representatives. Deputy Leader of Government Business in the Upper House, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, who piloted the Bill, said the Government has crafted...

The Jury (Amendment) Act 2016, which makes provisions for majority verdicts to be accepted in cases of non-capital murder, was approved in the Senate on May 27. Piloting the Bill, Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, said this revised legislation aims to rectify omissions made in the Jury (Amendment) Act, 2015, which came into force...

Business executive, Donald Wehby, was today (May 20) sworn in as the 13th Government Senator in the Upper House. Mr. Wehby took the Oath of Allegiance during a brief ceremony prior to the sitting of the Chamber. The Group Chief Executive Officer at GraceKennedy Limited, Mr. Wehby served as a Senator and Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and...