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...

A Bill dealing with how individuals and organizations can contribute to political parties and candidates, and stipulations regarding the disclosure of the contributions as well as penalties for false and non-disclosures, was passed by the Senate on January 22. Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, who piloted the Bill, said given the role that money plays in politics,...

The Firearms (Amendment) Act 2015, which will improve the operational and financial effectiveness of the Firearms Licensing Authority, was passed in the Senate on Friday (January 15). The Bill, which was piloted by Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, was passed with one amendment. It seeks to remove the requirement for the FLA to refund the fees paid...

The Senate, on Friday, January 15, passed the Insurance (Amendment) Act, 2015, which is intended to strengthen the legislative framework governing Jamaica’s insurance industry. The Bill, which was piloted by Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, aims to streamline and harmonize the procedures for hearings, appeals, and unclaimed balances with the provisions contained in other pieces of fiscal legislation....

The DNA Evidence Act, which is a critical piece of legislation that will serve to aid in the fight against crime, was passed in the Senate on December 11, with 25 amendments. Debate on the Bill was suspended in the Senate on December 10, to allow for amendments to be made to the First Schedule of the Act, which deals...

The Senate, on Friday (November 27), passed amendments to the Income Tax Act, which will empower the Government to prevent tax leakage through the transfer pricing system. Transfer pricing is used by multinational companies for sales and services within their corporate groups and by individuals in transactions with corporations under their control. The system, while legitimate, can be used as...