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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...

Government Senator Lambert Brown has suggested that a review of the National Insurance Act has become necessary in order to give more power to the Minister to increase the benefits to contributors when required. He argued that it wasn’t necessary to ask Parliament for amendments to the Act to facilitate an increase as “these adjustments come very often given the...

A Bill seeking to amend the Consumer Protection Act, to improve the efficiency of the legislation and strengthen the authority of the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) in resolving consumer disputes, was debated and passed in the Senate on December 7. The Bill, entitled: ‘An Act to Amend the Consumer Protection Act’, was approved with seven amendments.  It was initially debated...

Legislation aimed at improving the management of public debt was passed on November 30 in the Senate. The Public Debt Management Act will repeal the Loan Act of 1964 and several enactments related to the raising of loans by the Government. Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, who opened the debate, explained that while the existing legislative framework...

The Evidence (Special Measures) Act 2012 was passed in the Senate on November 23. The Bill seeks to introduce special measures that can be used to facilitate the giving of evidence by vulnerable witnesses and other specified witnesses. Opening the debate, Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, noted that the Bill provides for the admission of video recorded...

A Bill seeking to introduce special measures that can be used to facilitate the giving of evidence by vulnerable witnesses and other witnesses specified, was tabled in the Senate on November 16. The Evidence (Special Measures) Act 2012, was tabled by Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding. According to the Memorandum of Objects and Reasons, provision is being...

Both Houses of Parliament have now given the nod of approval for prospective developers of approved integrated resorts in Jamaica to apply for licenses to operate casinos within these establishments. This, following the Senate’s passage, on Friday (Nov. 9), of the legislations which will govern the process: the Casino Gaming (Prescribed Games) Regulations, 2012, and the Casino Gaming (Application for...

The Sex Offenders Registry and the Sex Offences Register are one step closer to becoming reality, following the Senate’s approval of Regulations governing their establishment. The Senate on Friday October 12, 2012 endorsed the Sexual Offenses (Registration of Sex Offenders) Regulations, 2012, tabled in the Senate last week (October 5), which seeks to establish and operate the register and registry....

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, on June 22, 2012 tabled in the Senate, an Order to bring the United Kingdom (UK) and British Overseas Territories under the ambit of the Mutual Assistance (Criminal Matters) Act. The Senator explained that the Act facilitates important forms of legal assistance between Jamaica and other countries with which Jamaica has entered...

Debate on a Bill, which seeks to enhance the conduct of attorneys-at-law, and the quality of service they provide, was tabled on Friday (June 8) in the Senate. Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, who opened the debate, said the Bill contains provisions empowering the General Legal Council to take specified actions to protect money, property or documents...

A Motion calling on the Government to undertake a structured programme of improvement to the indigent housing stock, using skilled and unskilled workers under the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), was approved by the Senate, on June 8. Opposition Senator, Robert Montague, who moved the Motion, noted that the registered poor or indigent was the “poorest of the poor in...