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KINGSTON — Following the passage of the Charter of Rights Bill in the Senate on April 1, an accompanying Bill - the Constitution Amendment Act - which seeks to amend Sections 90 and 91 of the Jamaican Constitution, was subsequently approved. The Charter of Rights Bill repeals and replaces Chapter Three of the Jamaican Constitution, while the Constitution Amendment Act...

KINGSTON — The Senate stamped its seal of approval on the monumental Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms Bill on Friday April 1, after two days of meetings at Gordon House. The Upper Chamber followed the trend set by the Lower House last week, with all members present, Government and Opposition, voting in favour of the provisions of the Charter,...

KINGSTON – Debate on the long awaited Charter of Fundamental Rights which began in the Senate on Thursday March 31 is expected to close this afternoon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, who is piloting the legislation, has explained that the Bill will replace Chapter Three of the Jamaican Constitution, noting that it was a “truly a...

KINGSTON – The Senate, last week, extended condolences and sympathies to the Government and people Japan, in the wake of the loss of lives and infrastructural damage sustained as a result of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The 8.9-magnitude quake, which predominantly impacted Japan’s northeast region, unleashed a 23-foot (seven-meter) tsunami and more than 50 aftershocks, mostly with 6.0...

KINGSTON – The Senate is slated to meet two days this week to facilitate passage of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (Constitutional Amendments) Act 2011 and conclude other matters on the 2010/11 legislative agenda. The two-day sitting on Thursday March 31 and Friday April 1 was proposed by Leader of Government Business, Senator Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne, following concerns...

KINGSTON – The Senate on  Friday March 25, passed the National Insurance Validation Amendment Bill 2011, during its sitting at Gordon House. Leader of Government Business in the Upper House, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne,  who piloted the Bill, explained that it aims to validate and confirm the payment of certain benefits made in good faith by persons acting on behalf of...

KINGSTON – The Senate has approved amendments to the Terrorism Prevention Act, to allow the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to list persons or entities as terrorists, following the approval of the Supreme Court. The Bill, titled the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2011, was passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday March 22 and in the Senate on Friday...

Regulations to improve accountability and provide a regulatory framework for Government’s executive agencies were approved in the Senate, Friday (March 4). Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, who moved the resolution - the Executive Agencies (General) Regulations Resolutions 2010- said that there was a need for regulations to effect the provisions and purposes of the Executive Agencies...

Local Government elections are to be postponed until March 2012, following the passage of two Bills in the Senate on Friday (February 18), which sought the deferment. Entitled the Parish Councils General Election (Postponement) Act, 2011, and the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation General Election (Postponement) Act, 2011, the Bills seek to amend the Parish Council and Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation...

The National Health Fund (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to confer on the Fund responsibility for procurement, warehousing and distribution of pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies for Government’s health facilities, was passed at Friday’s (February 18) sitting of the Senate. Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon Dorothy Lightbourne, piloted the measure through the Upper House as Leader of...

The Senate on Friday February 11 delayed the passage of the Attestation of Instruments (Facilities) (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to give Parish Councillors and Mayors the powers of a Justice of the Peace. While agreeing in principle with the proposed legislation, Senators were concerned about the lack of clarity in how the Mayors and Councillors would carry out these functions....

A Bill to amend  the Health and Allied Professions and Services (Miscellaneous Penalty Provisions) Act, 2011, was tabled in the Senate on  February 4, by Deputy Leader of Government Business, Senator the Hon. Dwight Nelson. The Bill, which seeks to provide for an increase in fines for persons who provide medical and support services without proper registration, was passed with...