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The Senate on Friday (December 3) passed a Bill amending the Coroners Act in a bid to minimize delays in the procedures for coroners' inquests, and further enhance the overall administration of justice. Piloting the Bill, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator A.J. Nicholson explained that the legislation would serve to eliminate the "interminable delays" during pre-inquest procedures by...

The Senate on Thursday (Dec. 2) approved amendments to three pieces of legislation, which seek to further improve the operation, management and regulation of the island's financial sector. These are the Financial Institutions Act, the Banking Act and the Building Societies Act. Piloting the Bills, Leader of Government Business in the Upper House, Senator Burchell Whiteman, said the changes to...

The Senate on Thursday (Dec. 2) approved amendments to the Financial Services Commission Act, which will among things, enhance the country's ability to fight money laundering. Leader of Government Business in the Upper House, Senator Burchell Whiteman, who piloted the legislation, explained that the changes would enable the Financial Services Commission (FSC) to satisfy international obligations and become party to...

A Bill to amend the Medical Act was approved by the Senate at its sitting on Thursday (Dec. 2). Leader of Government Business, Senator Burchell Whiteman, who piloted the legislation, explained that the move was to keep the profession on par with international practices. He said the Bill reflected the concerns of the medical fraternity and the Health Ministry, "to...

The Senate has approved a Bill to provide for the collection of a Tourism Enhancement Fee, to be paid by incoming airline and cruise ship passengers. Tabling the Bill at last Friday's (November 26) sitting of the Senate, Leader of Government Business and Information Minister, Burchell Whiteman pointed out that the fee would be collected by commercial or private carriers,...

A Bill to amend the Offences Against the Person Act was passed in the Senate last Friday (Nov. 26) to remove the mandatory death sentence for capital murder. Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Senator A. J. Nicholson, who piloted the legislation, which was passed with two amendments, explained that the intention was not to abolish the death penalty but...

Legislation to provide for the protection of consumer rights was passed in the Senate on Friday (Nov.19) but only after lengthy deliberations, which resulted in 25 amendments to the Act. Leader of Government Business, Senator Burchell Whiteman, piloted the Bill titled 'The Consumer Protection Act 2004', which seeks to provide for the promotion and protection of consumer interests in relation...

In order to adequately prepare accountants for the implementation of the Companies Act 2004 in January, the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) will participate in a seminar to be hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Jamaica (ICAJ) this Saturday, October 30 at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston. The seminar is just one of several such...

Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Senator A.J. Nicholson has said that amendments to the Domestic Violence Amendment Act, which was passed in the Senate on Friday, October 15, contained features, which would expand and in some instances, clarify the application of the Domestic Violence Act of 1995. The Bill provides for, among other things the widening of the categories of...

The Government has presented a net budget of $328.15 billion for Financial Year 2004/05, to cover its Recurrent (house-keeping) and Capital (development) expenses. This sum is based on projections in the 2004/05 Estimates of Expenditure, which were tabled in the House of Representatives today (March 31) by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies. Broken down, the figures reveal...

A sum of $14 million has been allocated to the Livestock Research and Improvement programme in the Ministry of Agriculture. The funds, which have been earmarked in the 2004/05 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives today (March 31), are focused on improving livestock and animal products. The allocation is for five sub-projects, including the Feeds Research and...

The Senate on March 18, approved a Bill to repeal the Caribbean Community and Common Market Act to make new provisions to implement the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas as the constituent legal instrument of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME). Providing background to the revised Treaty, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Delano...