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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...

The Senate, on Friday (May 18), passed the Judicature (Supreme Court) (Validation and Amendment) Act, 2012, with two amendments, during its sitting at Gordon House. Piloted by Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, the Bill seeks to regularize certain provisions outlined in Section 441A of the now repealed Judicature (Civil Procedure Code) Law, which had empowered the Supreme Court...

A Motion urging the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and various stakeholders to diversify the market for Jamaican coffee and improve the quality of the product, was approved in the Senate on April 27. Senator Norman Grant who moved the Motion, said the Jamaican coffee industry has been affected over the past nine years by a series of storms related...

The Senate unanimously approved a Motion, on April 5, seeking Government’s commissioning of a publication of the history of Jamaica’s Parliament, to include the names of Parliamentary Officers, Members, Clerks, Deputy Clerks and Marshals, as well as the titles of laws passed in the period since independence to the present. The Motion was moved by Government Senator, Lambert Brown, and...

Members of the Senate paid tribute to the late Hon. Justice Carl Rattray, OJ, QC, on Friday who passed away Wednesday (March 14). Senator K.D. Knight, who is a QC, remembered Justice Rattray as an advocate of the highest quality, noting that it was a pleasure to hear him addressing the court. “He was meticulous in the way he did...

The Senate, on Friday March 9th approved a motion seeking to have the use of communication technology by members permitted in the Upper House. The Motion which was moved by Senator Norman Grant speaks specifically, to allowing the use of computers to access compact discs and other sources of information, on the basis that major developments in technology, generally, and...

Tributes were paid  to former Senator and prominent businessman, Alexander Barclay Ewart, who died on February 1, by  Members of the Senate on February 10. Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, said Mr. Ewart was one of Jamaica’s leading industrialists, who had a genuine desire to serve his people and country. “He was a modest person, very calm...