Parliament Passed Several Laws in 2006

The legislative agenda for 2006 was a full one, which saw a number of laws passed as the Government, with the support of the Opposition, sought to fulfill Jamaica's commitment to the region and international community and to enhance the justice system to benefit all spheres of the society.

Cricket World Cup Act

            Among the most noted pieces of legislation that was passed was the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Act, which makes provision for the fulfilment of Jamaica's commitment to the efficient and effective staging of Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007.

            “This Bill seeks to reflect the rights of a company called Cricket World Cup 2007 Incorporated, and obligations of Jamaica Cricket 2007 Limited under what is called the host venue agreement,” said Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator A. J. Nicholson, who piloted the Bill.

             “The essence of the clauses of the Bill is to provide for the procedures and arrangements that are necessary to be implemented to ensure the security of the organizers, players and patrons of Cricket World Cup 2007,” he added.

            The law, which is also called the Sunset Legislation, is a required stipulation for the nine countries in the Caribbean region that will host the CWC.

Electoral Commission Act

            Also in October, the Senate passed the Electoral Commission (Interim) Act 2006, clearing the way for the establishment of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica.

            Senator Nicholson, who piloted the Bill, explained that in addition to conducting general elections, by-elections or referenda, the Commission would be responsible for compiling and maintaining the register of eligible electors; verifying the identity of every eligible elector; approving political parties eligible to receive state funding; and administering electoral funding and financial disclosure requirements.

            By passing the legislation he said, “we are deepening our democratic traditions which, with the passage of time, ultimately come to be one of the means by which our civilization is to be judged”.

            “We are also taking another step along the journey towards joining that band of countries, including so many of our sister countries of the Common- wealth, that have long embarked upon the road of establishing this kind of independent authority,” he added.

            He noted further that the process was a “step in the direction of constitutional reform and that we must quicken the pace of the reform of our Independence constitution, since such reform would include the entrenchment of this Electoral Commission of Jamaica”.

Financial Services

            In July, the House of Representatives approved a Bill to amend the Financial Services Commission (FSC) Act. The Bill seeks to validate and indemnify the staff and other persons acting in supervisory authority in the insurance sector.

             Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies explained that in August 2001, the FSC Act was brought into operation without provisions relating to insurance services, due to the fact that the Insurance Act was being revised at that time. “Hence, the FSC Act covered all the regulatory responsibilities of the FSC, apart from those related to insurance services,” he pointed out.

             According to the Finance Minister, the insurance provisions were to have been brought into operation simultaneously with the Insurance Act of 2001, but inadvertently this was not done as, while the Act was revised, it was not gazetted.

Offences Against the Person Act

            In addition, two Bills seeking to reform the Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Act, and the Incest (Punishment) (Amendment) Act, were re-tabled in the Senate on July 21. 

            At that time, Senator A.J. Nicholson emphasised that there was an urgent need to reform the two pieces of legislation, in light of the increase in the number of reported cases of sexual molestation of women and children, cases involving child prostitution and child pornography, and the vulnerability of the nation's women and children.

            The Bills had been previously tabled in 1995 and submitted to a Joint Select Committee for its consideration and report. However, the Committee failed to arrive at a consensus on all the proposals in the Bills and as such, Senator Nicholson noted that, “the Bills fell off the Order Paper on the prorogation of Parliament and have remained in abeyance until now”.