Busy Parliamentary year

Amid the occasional boisterous outbursts in Parliament this year, the countries legislators passed the following acts:

Casino Gaming Act - To implement legislation to provide a regulatory framework for the business of casino gaming.

The Financial Investigations Division Act

The Betting, Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Act

The Independent Commission of Investigations - To improve on the current system of investigations into public complaints concerning misconduct by members of the security forces by repealing the Police Public Complaints Act and appointing an Independent Commission of Investigations.

The Agricultural Development Corporation (Change of Name) Act - To rename the Agricultural Development Corporation to the Agro-Investment Corporation to more accurately reflect the specific objectives and responsibilities of this new corporation which will function as the business-facilitation arm of the Ministry of Agriculture with the mandate of promoting and facilitating investments in agriculture.

The University of the West Indies (Mona Campus) (Security) (Amendment) Act - To prohibit the cutting of trees, picking of fruits and the cutting of grass and other vegetation et al except with the authorisation of the Campus Finance and General Purposes Committee.

The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation General Election (Postponement) Act - (To amend the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation Act to extend the period during which a date must be appointed for the holding of elections to the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation and, by extension, to the election of the mayor to the municipality

The Parish Councils General Election (Postponement) Act - (To amend the Parish Councils Act to extend the period during which a date must be appointed for the holding of elections to each parish council and, by extension, to the election of mayors to each municipality

The Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Act - (To provide for a minimum custodial sentence of 15 years for a person convicted before the Circuit Court of any of the following offences: (a) shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm and (b) wounding with intent, with use of a firearm.

The Parole (Amendment) Act - (In order to provide that persons who have been sentenced to imprisonment for life, or for a period of 15 years or more, for specified firearms offences, shall not be eligible for parole until after having served a period of not less than 10 years of the sentence.

The Bail (Amendment) Act - (To: (a) provide in the case of specified offences, for the onus to be on the defendant to satisfy the court that bail should be granted; and (b) confer, upon the prosecution, a right of appeal in cases where bail is granted by a court.

The Constabulary Force (Interim Provisions for Arrest and Detention) Act - To temporarily extend (for a period of one year) the provisions of sections 50B and 50F of the Constabulary Force Act.)

The Bail (Interim Provisions for Specified Offences) Act, 2010 - To make temporary provisions in relation to the Bail Act. The Bill expires after a period of one year from the date of its commencement.

The Firearms (Amendment) Act - To provide for a minimum sentence of 15 years for a person convicted before the Circuit Court, of any of a number of offences in relation to firearms and ammunition.

The Jury (Amendment) Act - To amend the Jury Act to allow for a majority verdict of the jury (not being less than nine to three), to be accepted in cases of murder where the sentencing options do not include the death penalty.

The Industrial and Provident Societies (Amendment) Act, 2010 - To amend the Industrial and Provident Societies Act to improve the legislative framework governing industrial and provident societies.

The Child Care and Protection (Children's Homes) Regulations, 2005 (Validation and Indemnity) Act, 2010 (To validate and confirm acts done in good faith by: (a) the Child Development Agency; (b) any person having official duties under the Child Care and Protection Act or purported Child Care and Protection (Children's Homes) Regulations, 2005; and (c) any person acting in connection with, or in support of, a person referred to in paragraph (a) or (b); and to indemnify persons from liability in respect of such acts.

The Credit Reporting Act - To establish a credit-reporting mechanism as part of the Financial Sector Reform Programme.

The Tourist (Duty-Free) Shopping System (Change of Name and Amendment) Act - To amend the Tourist (Duty- Free) Shopping System Act in order to establish a system of arrivals duty-free shopping at international ports of entry into Jamaica, which will allow arriving passengers to make duty-free purchases upon their arrival at the airports or seaports, and before clearing Customs; to amend the Customs Tariff (Revision) Resolution, 1972 to extend the duty-free baggage allowance; to revise relevant fees under the Act.

Town and Country Planning (Negril and Green Island Area Local Planning Authority) (Validation and Indemnity) Act - To validate and confirm, with effect from the 24th day of March, 1984 to the date of commencement of this Act, the grant of permission for land development and other acts done, in good faith, by the Negril and Green Island Area Local Planning Authority and to indemnify the Authority, and other persons against any consequential liability for acts and omissions during the period.