AG to advise on proposed Crown Lands Bill, says Holness

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Attorney General has now become central to the dispute over the proposed Crown Lands Reform Bill, with Speaker of the House Juliet Holness referring both the original and latest versions of the legislation for legal advice. The move marks a new stage in an increasingly contentious dispute between Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding over the handling of the private member’s Bill, which seeks to make it easier for Jamaicans who have occupied Crown lands for extended periods to acquire legal ownership.

Holness made the announcement in her opening remarks on Tuesday during a sitting of the House of Representatives, saying a further revised version of the Bill had been received by Parliament on Saturday and that she had reviewed it.

She said the legislation would not be tabled during the sitting, pointing to the constitutional and procedural question of whether the House is permitted to proceed with it.