By Vernon Daley, Staff Reporter 
Nicholson
IN WHAT appeared to have been its final sitting before general election is called, the Senate last Friday completed a heavy schedule, passing five Bills in a marathon session.
Those Bills passed were the new Companies Act, the Mona Campus Security Act, the Road Maintenance Act, the Police Public Complaints Authority Act and an Act to amend the Oaths Act.
Friday's passage of the Companies Act brought to an end two years of deliberations to modernise the country's company law. The Bill was passed by the House of Representatives last year. However, when it went to the Senate concerns were raised about some of its provisions.
A Senate committee was set up under the chairmanship of Independent Senator Douglas Orane. That committee completed its work in July and its report considered by the Senate before passage of the Bill.
The Mona Campus Security Act was also stamped with the approval of the Senate at Friday's sitting. People could be fined up to $200,000 if they are found guilty of breaching the Act, which aims to improve security on the university campus. General security matters including vehicular traffic, illegal vending and crime are dealt with under the Act.
The Police Public Complaints Authority (PPCA) Act, also passed by the Senate, seeks to give the body the power to enter into arrangements relating to medical benefits, pensions, gratuities and other retiring benefits or disability or death benefits for employees.
During Friday's sitting of the Senate Attorney-General A.J. Nicholson announced that the PPCA, will issue monthly reports on the cases it is investigating, instead of the annual reports it now releases.
During debate on the Bill in the House of Representatives in July, Opposition spokesman on Justice, Delroy Chuck, argued that the body needed to issue more regular reports if it were to enjoy public confidence in its work.
The Senate also passed the Road Maintenance Fund Act, which paves the way for a US$6 million fund - the proceeds of which will be used to maintain the island's main roads. The fund will be boosted by one-third of the revenue collected for motor vehicle licences. This amount normally goes to the Consolidated Fund.
Friday's sitting also saw the passage of legislation, providing for a new Oath of Allegiance and Judicial Oath. The new oaths will replace the ones parliamentarians, ministers and judges now pledge to The Queen.
Last Friday, Independent Senators sided with Government Senators to approve the new oaths, which required a simple majority vote.
