Consequent on the resignation of Senators Natalie Campbell-Rodriques and Leslie Campbell, the Prime Minister has written to the Governor General recommending the appointment of Dr. Dana Morris Dixon and Mr. Abka Fitz-Henley to the Senate. The new Senators will be sworn in at the next sitting of the Senate tomorrow, May 12, 2023. Prime Minister Holness said “I want to...

The Consumer Protection (Validation and Indemnity of Tribunal) Act, 2023, which seeks to validate and confirm the activities of the Consumer Protection Tribunal for a period of one year, was passed in the Senate on Friday (May 5). It also validates and confirms the continuation of the Tribunal and the official acts of the members of the Tribunal during the...

The Senate has approved legislation to establish the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA) as a statutory body to carry out the regulatory functions previously discharged by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ). In 2018, Cabinet gave approval for the separation of the regulatory functions of the BSJ and for those duties to be undertaken by the NCRA. Minister of...

The Senate has appointed a select committee to review three crucial pieces of legislation to impose stricter penalties for murder. They are the Criminal Justice (Administration) (Amendment) Act 2023, the Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Act 2023, and the Child Care and Protection (Amendment) Act 2023. Committee members, who were named during Friday’s (April 21) sitting of the Upper House,...

The Senate on Friday (March 24) approved the Appropriation Bill, 2023, which outlines how the government will spend the $1 trillion allocated in the 2023/24 Estimates of Expenditure. The Bill authorises expenditure for the financial year 2023/24 and stipulates how the money will be allocated to the various services and purposes of the government. The legislation was piloted by Minister...

The Senate, on Friday (March 17), paid tribute to late former member, Delano Franklyn, during its sitting at Gordon House. Mr. Franklyn, who was an Attorney-at-Law, also served as Chief Advisor to former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson, and Special Advisor to former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller. He passed away on February 10, 2023,...

The Senate, on Friday (February 10), approved a Motion that will empower it to continue work on several pieces of legislation during the 2023/24 Parliamentary Year. These include the Trademark Amendment Rules and the Segregated Accounts Companies Act 2023, as well as several Private Members Motions. The Motion will also enable several committees appointed, to continue their deliberations on key...