House passes Mediation Act, pays tribute to Harding, Peart, Nelson and Francis

KINGSTON — The House of Representatives on July 14, 2026 passed the Mediation Act 2026 and paid formal tribute to four prominent Jamaicans before questioning ministers on energy policy.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck piloted the bill, which sets a regulatory framework for mediation in Jamaica, including community mediation, registers mediators, licences mediation service providers, and gives effect to the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements resulting from mediation (New York, December 20, 2018).

After second reading, the House sat as a committee of the whole. Members debated whether “habitually resident” in clause 2 definitions of domestic mediation, international commercial mediation and international settlement agreement should become “ordinarily resident.” Opposition Leader Mark Golding and other members urged care before shifting the language to mere presence in Jamaica. Chuck, after consulting technical advisers, kept “ordinarily resident” in all three places. Clause 11 was amended to allow up to six months’ imprisonment in default of a fine. Clauses and schedules were approved, and the bill was read a third time and passed.

Tributes followed for Professor Oswald Harding, OJ, CD, KC, former Senate president and cabinet minister; Arthur Nelson, former MP for St. James West Central; Dean Peart, former MP for Manchester Northwestern and cabinet minister; and athletics coach Stephen Francis, co-founder of the MVP Track Club. Relatives of the Peart and Nelson families attended in the gallery.

Speakers from both sides praised Harding’s long Senate service, constitutional work and role founding the University of Technology law faculty; Nelson’s engineering background, humility and service in western Jamaica; Peart’s five consecutive terms, local-government record and plain-spoken mentorship; and Francis’s pioneering of home-based elite coaching that produced champions including Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Asafa Powell.

Culture Minister Olivia Grange said Harding’s widow shared his wish that much of the Harding ceramics collection be donated for public display, including possibly at the new Parliament building, and pledged government help. House Leader Horace Chang said Harding’s funeral is set for July 27 at the UWI Chapel; Nelson’s for August 8 at 11 a.m. at St. James Parish Church; Francis’s celebration of life for August 15 at the National Indoor Sports Centre; and that Cabinet would consider an official funeral for Peart.

Under questions, Minister of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications Daryl Vaz said talks had begun on renewal, modification or termination of the All-Island Electricity Licence 2016. He listed a Cabinet-approved negotiating team and said the Government has no current plans to divest Petrojam assets. Subsidies tied to Middle East-driven oil price spikes are expected to be recovered over time through pricing as markets ease. Vaz said Jamaica remains aimed at about 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, is now near 16 per cent, and is pursuing further solar and battery projects, with a competitive price goal near 20 US cents per kilowatt-hour. He declined to discuss sensitive licence-negotiation details while talks continue.

The House also approved motions allowing the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee hybrid meetings, adopting a Constituency Development Fund special report, and replacing Zelia Jess with G. Anthony Hilton on the Regulations Committee, before adjourning to a date to be fixed.