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...

The Senate on Thursday, March 21, passed a Bill to prosecute persons involved in the illegal lottery scam. Some 14 amendments have been made and it will be sent back to the House for approval. The Bill Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act addresses, among other things: obtaining any property or inducing any person to confer any benefit on...

The Senate has approved Regulations facilitating the placement of spikes on the toll road off ramps, in an effort to deter motorists from reversing onto the road. Tyre deflation devices, or spikes, are used to impede or stop the movement of vehicles by puncturing their tyres. Opening the debate on Friday, March 8, Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding,...

The Senate, on Friday, February 15, passed three Bills to remove flogging and whipping from the country’s statute books. The Bills passed were: the Larceny (Amendment) Act 2012; the Law Reform (Flogging and Whipping) (Abolition) Act, 2012; and the Obeah (Amendment) Act 2012. Cabinet gave approval for the drafting of the Bills, which are in support of the Government’s commitment...

Government Senator, Lambert Brown, is supporting a call for legislation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which seeks to safeguard the welfare of persons in the workplace. “The Occupational Safety and Health Act is essential in protecting the workers and their families. It is good for employers (as it) will save them from having to face compensation (and) lost...

The White Paper on the National Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS was tabled in the Senate on Friday, February 8. The policy is a framework for action by the Government, employers and workers to deal effectively with HIV/AIDS in places of employment. It is based on the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) principles on HIV/AIDS in the workplace. It takes...

The Senate on Friday (February 1) approved a Resolution increasing the monetary jurisdictional limits of the Resident Magistrate’s Court in civil matters. Section 129A of the Judicature (Resident Magistrates) Act empowers the Minister by Order, subject to affirmative Resolution, to increase the monetary jurisdictional limits of the Resident Magistrate’s Court in civil matters. Some of the specific increases include: for...