PRESS RELEASES & ANNOUNCEMENTS
May 12, 2009
The GLC wins its Appeal
In a 10-page decision handed down on May 12, 2009, the Privy Council ruled that the General Legal Council has the power to make regulations requiring Attorneys to submit Accountant's Reports in order to ensure compliance with the Accounting Rules. Download the judgment.
May 10, 2009
29th Annual General Meeting
Elections:
Mrs Jacqueline Samuels-Brown was re-elected for a 2nd term as President of the Association and Mr Ian Wilkinson was returned as Vice-President at the Annual General Meeting held on May 9, 2009. Mrs Pamela Benka-Coker, QC, Miss Nancy Anderson, Mr Patrick Bailey, Mr Donovan Walker, Mr John Leiba and Mrs Janet Morrison were all re-elected as members of Council.
Resolutions:
Members voted in favour of a resolution calling for the Government of Jamaica to address the obstacles to Jamaica's participation in the Caribbean Court of Justice.
Articles of Incorporation were adopted in place of the Articles of Association. The new Articles make provision for overseas practitioners to become 'Associate Members' of the Jamaican Bar Association. It also permits law students to become 'Affiliates'.
Members voted in favour of a resolution moved from the floor requesting that the term of office of members of the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council be limited to a maximum of three terms of office of three years with no more than two concurrent terms.
See the Resolutions passed at the AGM
Members also voted in favour of a resolution to call an extraordinary general meeting for the purpose of considering, and if thought appropriate, passing a resolution to amend the Association's Articles to make members of the General Legal Council or the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council ineligible to sit on the Council of the Jamaican Bar Association.
April 24, 2009
DIVORCE BACKLOG
Further to lobbying efforts and representations by the Bar Council, our
Chief Justice convened a meeting on April 6, 2009 with two (2) judges of
the Supreme Court, Registrars and Deputy Registrars and some Family Law
Practitioners to discuss and search for solutions to the backlog.
Several useful suggestions were made one of which related to
“standardizing” the format for the various documents to be filed for
divorces. The head of our Family Law Sub-Committee has provided our
Chief Justice as agreed, with sample documents which had been generated
and disseminated at one of our Continuing Legal Education seminars of
this year. It is proposed to utilize these documents on the basis for
finalizing the “standardized” documents. Hopefully this will reduce the
controversy and or diversity of views as to what should be included in
Petitions and other divorce documents; and hence, expedite the
processing of Divorce Petitions.
JUSTICE REFORM
The Justice Reform Process continues with funding from the Canadian
International Development Agency of $18.5M for a four year technical
assistance program. The international department of the Canadian
Ministry of Justice proposes to have a resident officer here. I am
attaching hereto letter from Canadian International Development Agency
to me dated April 6, 2009. I met recently with representatives from the
International Division of the Canadian Ministry of Justice at their
request to introduce the purpose and nature of their involvement in the
Reform process.
The Canadians have completed their study of the operations of the office
of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Their report is available to
interested members by email.
The Attorney General has sent me the “Final Jamaica Justice System
Reform Policy Agenda Framework” prepared by the Independent Legal
Consultant Mr. Dennis Darby, which was circulated to members by email.
The work of the Committee established to
review the Evidence Amendment Act and to make recommendations relative
to weaknesses in the law and its current operation is nearing
completion. Please look out for news of the report.
TIMESHARE LEGISLATION
The Commercial Law Sub-Committee
deliberated on this issue and made its recommendations which were
accepted by Bar Council. These have been submitted to the Ministry. It
is now proposed that a consultant from the United Nations World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO) will meet with appropriate members of the Bar to
discuss this proposal further. Interested practitioners who do not sit
on the Conveyancing or the Commercial Law Sub-Committee are asked to
inform the Bar office or our Secretary or the Chair of any of the two
aforementioned sub-committees so that you can be informed of the date
and time of the proposed meeting.
NEW PRIVY COUNCIL RULES AND PRACTICE DIRECTIONS
Visit the Privy Council's website to download a copy of the revised Privy Council Rules and Practice Directions.