Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Ministerial Brief on Sexual Offences JSC
Jamaica, October 2, 2019 – Brief for the Honourable Minister of Justice on the Report of the Joint Select Committee appointed to complete the review of The Sexual Offences Act along with the Offences Against The Person Act, The Domestic Violence Act and The Child Care and Protection Act.
BACKGROUND
Members of this Honourable House will recall that in December 2018, the Report of the Joint Select Committee which reviewed the Sexual Offences Act, inter alia, was tabled in this House.
The Report discloses that the Committee:
1. Reviewed the Sexual Offences Act pursuant to section 41 of the said Act, which provides that it must be reviewed within five years of its date of commencement;
2. Considered and reviewed the Offences Against the Person Act, the Domestic Violence Act and the Child Care and Protection Act, with particular emphasis on the offences and punishment under these legislation with regard to:
a. The murder of pregnant women;
b. The assault of women, children and the elderly;
c. Sexual offences against women, children and the elderly;
d. Such other violent crimes against women, children, the disabled and the elderly as may be deemed necessary for the review.
AND
3. Made recommendations for legislative amendment, not restricted to the stated legislation under review, for the better administration of justice and the effective protection of these special groups, as the Committee deemed necessary.
MS, I must remind this House that the review of the legislation under the Report originally arose from a Private Members Motion tabled in 2013 by then Opposition Senator Johnson Smith. This motion received unanimous support from both sides of the Senate. Consequently, a review of the four Acts was undertaken by a previous Committee in 2014, which was unable to complete its work prior to the general elections held in 2016.
The last Committee commenced deliberations on January 18, 2017 and held a total of nineteen meetings (19), with the last meeting being held on December 6, 2018.
The Committee having heard numerous submissions from the various stakeholders (government, civil society, NGOs and other special interest groups), made certain recommendations, some of which are set out below:
1. BUGGERY, ABORTION AND HIV
This House will recall the implications of an amendment to the Buggery Act and the Savings under the Constitution. In summary, it was posited that forced anal penetration should be made a criminal offence akin to vaginal penetration with a commensurate penalty. An examination of legislative authorities revealed however, that any amendment to that effect could be construed as an implied repeal of the offence of buggery. Accordingly, it
was determined that the Committee did not have the power effect that amendment and the matter should properly be considered by Parliament. MS, this government has given its commitment to invoking a referendum on the matter, however, I am urging my colleagues in this House to carefully consider the issue and make their recommendations. The same considerations apply to the issue of abortion.
HIV
MS, the Committee also recommended that it should be a criminal offence for someone to willfully or recklessly infect a partner with any sexual transmissible disease that can inflict serious bodily harm to that partner but like the issue of abortion it should be considered by Parliament as a whole.
MS, the intention is to clarify the law by codifying the common law position. I recently received a position paper from the National Family Planning Board which is opposing the view that the law should be amended to provide for the specific offence of willful transmittal of an STD. Copies of this paper will be made available to this House for your consideration.
2. MARITAL RAPE
MS, section of 5 of the Sexual Offences Act provides that certain conditions must be met before it is determined that a husband can rape his wife. The Committee recommended that those conditions must be removed to retain one qualification for rape, that is non-consensual sex.
3. SEXUAL OFFENDERS ABROAD TO BE REGISTERED
The Committee recommended that it must be made mandatory for sex offenders who have relocated or returned to Jamaica register in the Sex Offender Registry in Jamaica. Failure to register will constitute an offence which may be punishable by imprisonment. Further,
4. AGE OF CONSENT AND CLOSE IN AGE PROVISION
The Committee was of the view that the age of consent should remain at 16 years and a provision should be included in the law to prevent the criminalization of children where they willingly engaged in sexual activities with each other.
Accordingly, it was agreed that:
i) There should be a close-in age range of four years for the exception to apply;
ii) where both parties are under 17 years old, they would be sent to Child Diversion or dealt with by such other order under the Child Care and Protection Act;
iii) in respect of children under the age of 12 years old, (who cannot commit an offence under the law), provisions should be included in the Child Care and Protection Act that allows the Children’s Court to make an appropriate order; and
iv) for persons up to the age of 19 years, the options would be, counseling, probation or other available remedy.
5. INCREASE IN PENALTIES
It has been recommended that the penalties for offences in all four pieces of legislation should be reviewed and increased to make them a deterrent. This is particularly where the criminal acts are committed against the most vulnerable groups in the society. Such offences will be treated as an aggravating offence which may attract an additional penalty, for example a mandatory minimum of 20 years.
6. THE NEW OFFENCE OF STALKING
It is also recommended that a new offence of stalking should be created.
7. THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT
The Committee recommended that the Domestic Violence Act should be amended to provide for enhanced protection orders which would provide a range of remedies.
Accordingly, the Committee was of the view that a separate, Joint Select Committee of Parliament should be established to carry out a comprehensive review of the Act on its own, to ensure that the legislation as well as the institutional and social framework necessary for the successful implementation of all aspects of the legislation could be dealt with.
MS, these are just some of the recommendations made by the Committee and I now present those recommendations for debate by this House.
Release: JIS
By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
September 28, 2026 – Wall Street initially flinched at the $3-billion handshake. But in a matter of days, it was smoother sailing.
Perhaps the bigger Caribbean business story is not what Sandals Resorts International is getting from the deal. It is who is writing the
cheque — and what that says about what Gordon “Butch” Stewart built.
As reports of Royal Caribbean Group’s Sandals deal circulated Tuesday, RCL shares plunged 6.14 percent from Monday’s $250.25 close to $234.89, on sharply elevated trading.
When the agreement became official Wednesday — approximately $3 billion for a 50 percent equity interest in Sandals and Beaches Resorts — shares slipped another 1.95 percent to $230.30 and touched $222.22 intraday. Investors were digesting both the size of the investment and committed debt financing secured through Morgan Stanley.
But by Thursday, RCL rebounded 3.77 percent, with shares continuing their recovery Friday to finish the week around $243. Analysts were also looking ahead: JPMorgan reportedly raised its RCL price target from $345 to $394, while Citi placed the company on a 90-day positive catalyst watch.
And just who is RCL?
Royal Caribbean Group is a global vacation giant, publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange with a market value of roughly $65 billion. Its portfolio includes Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea, alongside private destinations and an
expanding vacation platform.
So when a company of that scale commits $3 billion for only half of Sandals and Beaches Resorts, the transaction puts a striking financial marker on one of the Caribbean’s greatest home-grown hospitality success stories.
The deal, expected to close in early 2027, creates a 50-50 partnership with the Stewart family and takes Royal Caribbean deeper into the all-inclusive resort business.
Butch Stewart started Sandals in Jamaica in 1981 believing a Caribbean company could compete with the world’s best.
Forty-five years later, one of the world’s biggest vacation companies is prepared to pay $3 billion just to own half of what he built.
Now that’s the handshake that does more than seal a deal — it cements a legacy.
Caribbean News
Royal Caribbean Group and Sandals Resorts Announce Landmark Partnership to Accelerate Their Leading Vacation Experiences
Royal Caribbean Group Investment to Advance Sandals and Beaches’ Growth and Broaden the Group’s Vacation Portfolio
Montego Bay, Jamaica and Miami, September 24, 2026 – Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) and Sandals Resorts today announced the signing of an agreement to form a partnership in the all-inclusive resort space with a 50% investment from Royal Caribbean Group. Building on Sandals and Beaches Resorts’ more than four decades of leadership in Caribbean hospitality, the joint venture will create new opportunities for continued resort growth while broadening the experiences across Royal Caribbean Group’s vacation platform.
The partnership brings together two of the travel industry’s most celebrated vacation companies, pairing Sandals and Beaches’ all-inclusive resort expertise with Royal Caribbean Group’s vacation platform, including industry-leading brands – Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea – a portfolio of private destinations, new river cruising offering, and an industry-first loyalty program. United in a shared history in the Caribbean and connected by a love for their communities, the companies will offer travelers an unparalleled collection of cruise, private destination and resort experiences, serving guests across more vacation occasions and establishing their undisputed leadership in Caribbean vacations.
The joint venture expands Royal Caribbean Group into an adjacent vacation category, growing its participation in the approximately $2 trillion global vacation market, and meets the growing global demand for Sandals and Beaches Resorts by accelerating their expansion. The partnership will include Sandals and Beaches’ collection of premier all-inclusive properties across the Caribbean, and the companies will explore opportunities to broaden distribution, deepen guest engagement, and make it easier for travelers to discover vacation experiences offered across both portfolios.
“For nearly 60 years, we’ve reimagined what a vacation can be, constantly expanding the ways we inspire our guests to explore, connect and create lifelong memories,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “We have been building a vacation platform that brings joy to millions of people around the world and creates meaningful relationships that last with our guests. Our partnership with
Sandals and Beaches Resorts is an important next step on that journey – bringing together two iconic leading vacation companies to further strengthen and grow one of the most admired resort portfolios in the world. The Stewart family has created powerful and beloved brands, and we are honored to build on that legacy. Together, we see tremendous opportunity to expand the reach of Sandals and Beaches Resorts and continue turning the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations.”
“My father, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, founded Sandals Resorts with the belief that a company built in the Caribbean could stand on the world stage alongside the most respected names in hospitality. Today is proof of how far that vision can go,” said Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts. “This partnership is the natural next step in building on that conviction. It gives us the ability to grow faster with a partner that shares our values of exceptional hospitality, long-term investment, and the power of enduring brands. Together, we will introduce more guests to Sandals and Beaches Resorts while creating even more extraordinary experiences for those who have made our resorts part of their lives for decades.” Stewart added, “As we continue to grow, we will remain true to what has always defined us: delivering authentic vacations that exceed expectations while creating opportunities for our team members, travel advisor partners and the communities we call home. The future has never been brighter, and I know this moment would make my father incredibly proud.”
The joint venture will be governed by a board under the shared leadership of Stewart and Liberty. Stewart will maintain a leadership role in
guiding the company’s long-term strategic growth as Executive Chairman of Sandals and Beaches Resorts. Existing reservations, loyalty programs, resort operations and cruise operations will continue as usual, with the partnership bringing additional resources to support future opportunities.
Under the terms of the agreement, Royal Caribbean Group will acquire a 50% equity interest in Sandals and Beaches Resorts for approximately $3 billion, representing a forward EBITDA multiple of approximately 10x. Royal Caribbean Group has secured committed debt financing from Morgan Stanley to fund the investment. The transaction is expected to close in early 2027, subject to customary approvals and closing conditions, and is expected to be accretive to earnings next year.
BofA Securities and PJT Partners acted as financial advisors, and Latham & Watkins and Jones Day acted as legal advisors to the Sandals Group. Perella Weinberg Partners and Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisors and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal advisor to Royal Caribbean Group.
PHOTO CAPTION: Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, and Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts, mark the signing of an agreement to form a landmark partnership that expands Royal Caribbean Group into the all-inclusive resort space and supports the future growth of Sandals and Beaches Resorts. The signing took place at Royal Caribbean Group’s new headquarters in Miami, with the city’s skyline in the background.
The Caribbean tourism deal first reported as a possibility on Tuesday is now a signed agreement. Royal Caribbean Group plans to pay
approximately US$3 billion for a 50% stake in Sandals and Beaches Resorts, putting the value of the business at about US$6 billion. The purchase is expected to close in early 2027, subject to approvals.
Founded in Jamaica by the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart in 1981, the resort business has a presence across nine Caribbean destinations, including Jamaica, The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. Sandals has described its workforce as nearly 20,000 people, most of them Caribbean nationals.
“My father, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, founded Sandals Resorts with the belief that a company built in the Caribbean could stand on the world stage alongside the most respected names in hospitality,” said Adam Stewart in the announcement carried by PR Newswire. He will remain executive chairman, while the Stewart family retains a stake. The companies say existing reservations and resort operations will continue as usual.
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