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The Senate, on Friday July 9, passed an amendment to the Jury Act to allow for majority verdict in non-capital cases. It provides that, in cases where the sentencing options do no include the death penalty, no less than nine members of a 12-member jury may return a verdict. Minister of Justice and Leader of Government Business, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne,...

The Senate has passed the six anti-crime Bills, first brought to Parliament in 2008 by the Government to support its efforts to reduce crime and violence in the country. Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte The Bills are: an Act to amend the Bail Act; an Act to...

An Opposition Motion seeking to censure Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, for her actions during the process of the extradition of Christopher Coke was easily defeated in the Senate Friday (July 2). Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the Hon Dorothy Lightbourne The Motion, brought by Opposition Senator, Sandrea Falconer, was defeated by a count of...

The Six Anti-Crime Bills, which will form part of the Government's initiative to fight crime, were tabled in the Senate, Friday (June 25). Minister of National Security, Senator the Hon. Dwight Nelson and Minister of Justice and Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne, tabled the Bills. The Bills are: an Act to amend the Bail Act;...

The Senate gave approval on Friday (June 18) to two Bills postponing Local Government Elections to 2011. The elections, which were to be held by June 30 this year, are now scheduled to be held no later than March 30, 2011. Bills amending the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) Act and the Parish Councils Act to allow for the...

The Protected Disclosure Bill, which seeks to encourage and facilitate specified disclosures of improper conduct in the public interest and to protect employees who make the specified disclosures, was tabled in the Senate, today (June 11). The Bill was tabled by Minister of Justice and Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne. According to the Memorandum of...

The Senate on Friday (April 23) passed the Appropriation Bill, giving approval to the Government's estimated expenditure of $503.9 billion for the financial year 2010/11. The Bill, piloted by Leader of Government Business and Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, was approved by the House of Representatives on April 21. When broken down, the figures show that...

The Financial Investigations Division (FID) Act, which gives the Financial Investigations Division in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, the authority to probe crimes involving money laundering and fraud, as well as the financing of terrorist activities, was approved by the Senate on Friday (March 26). Leader of Government Business in the Senate and Minister of Justice, Senator...

The Senate yesterday (March 19), passed the Casino Gaming Act and the amended Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act. The Casino Gaming Act seeks to establish a Casino Gaming Commission, which will regulate the conduct of casino gaming, and have powers to grant licences to operators within an approved integrated resort development. The body will also have authority to grant personal...

The Senate passed the Regulations to the Terrorism Prevention Act, setting out the procedures to be followed by entities in their business operations, to ensure against supporting terrorism financing or offences, Friday (March 19). The Act addresses a variety of issues with respect to terrorist financing, ranging from the prohibition of funding terrorist acts, to the monitoring of financial institutions,...

The Senate, on Friday (March 12), approved amendments to the Terrorism Prevention Act, paving the way for the passage of regulations and to impose heavier penalties for breaches. "Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, in May 2009, committed to have the Terrorism Prevention (Reporting Entities) Regulation in force by the end of the financial year," said...

Amendments to the Financial Administration and Audit Act and the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act were passed in the Senate on Friday (March 12), as part of measures to implement a fiscal responsibility framework in Jamaica. Leader of Government Business and Minister of Justice, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, who piloted both Bills, stated that the fiscal responsibility framework will provide...