The Senate has approved legislation to impose harsher penalties for the crime of human trafficking, and to expand the list of offences under the law. Under the amendments to the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Suppression and Punishment) Act, convicted persons can be imprisoned for up to 20 years, with provision for the court to impose an additional 10 years if...

An Act to Repeal the Defamation Act and Libel and Slander Act', also known as the Defamation Bill, was passed today (July 12) in the Senate. The Bill addresses inadequacies in the existing libel law and promotes speedy and non-litigious methods of resolving disputes. Among the provisions are: the abolition of the distinction between libel and slander and the establishment...

The Senate, on July 5, commenced debate on a Bill entitled: ‘An Act to Repeal the Defamation Act and Libel and Slander Act’, also known as the Defamation Bill, during its sitting at Gordon House, downtown Kingston. The Bill, which was piloted by Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, seeks to amend Jamaica’s defamation laws to address inadequacies identified...

The Senate, on Friday (June 28), passed the Revenue Administration (Amendment) Act. The Bill seeks to, among other things, significantly improve the State’s revenue collection process by empowering the Commissioner General of Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) with the authority to mandate the provision of information, deemed useful and useable, in a format appropriate for and relevant to respective sectors. It...

The Senate, on Friday (June 21), approved a Bill to facilitate Jamaica’s acceptance into the Egmont Group. The Egmont Group provides a forum for Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) around the world, to improve co-operation in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing; and to foster the implementation of domestic programmes in this regard. The Bill, which amended the Financial...

The Senate has approved the Appropriations Bill, giving approval to the Government's estimated expenditure of $520.88 billion for the financial year 2013/2014. A budget of $520.88 billion was presented by the Government for 2013/14, with $370.5 billion earmarked for Recurrent (house-keeping) expenses and $150.38 billion for Capital (development) spending. In piloting the Bill in the Senate on Friday, May 10,...

The Senate, on Friday (March 22), approved a Bill for the establishment of Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) as a semi-autonomous revenue authority. The Tax Administration Jamaica Act 2013 was piloted by Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding. He explained that the TAJ will be responsible for registration, taxpayer services, audit, investigations, assessments, collection, enforcement, legal representation, and various support...