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Attorney-at-Law, Sophia Frazer-Binns has been appointed Government Senator, to fill the vacancy arising from the resignation of former Senate President, Rev. Stanley Redwood. In accepting her appointment, during a sitting of the Upper House today (May 17), Ms. Frazer-Binns expressed gratitude to Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller for the confidence "she has reposed in me". "It is...

History was created in the Senate on Friday, May 17, when Government Senator Floyd Morris, was elected as the first visually impaired President of the Chamber. He replaces Rev. Stanley Redwood, who officially resigned on May 10, after serving for 16 months. In accepting the Presidency, Senator Morris promised to execute his responsibilities with justice and fairness, further noting that...

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...

A Bill providing for the protection of Jamaica’s plant genetic resources was passed in the Senate on Friday (January 18). The Bill, the Protection of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Act, facilitates Jamaica’s compliance with its obligations under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The Treaty was approved by the United Nations Food...

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...