Lower House passes amendments to increase stipend for jurors

 

By Kimone Witter    

 

 

An increase in the stipend for jurors moved one step closer to reality on Tuesday after the House of Representatives passed the proposed amendments to the Jury (Amendment) Act 2026.

 

The bill was passed with eight amendments to that section.

 

The stipend is set to be increased from $2,000 to $6,000 per day.

 

Initially, proposed amendments to the Bill were also to address jury tampering, but after concerns from the parliamentary opposition the government has pulled this section from the revised law.

 

The proposed amendments on jury tampering will be reviewed by a Joint Select Committee of Parliament.

 

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, who piloted the Bill, explained the decision.

 

"The bill itself, Madam Speaker, dealt with two issues - the increase in the fees and the widening of the fees to jurors who are called to serve and also the matter of jury tampering before and during the trial. Madam Speaker, a number of concerns were raised and it seemed to me, even though I've tried to remedy a number of the concerns raised in relation to jury tampering, it still needs a bit of tweaking. So I've decided that we're only proceeding with the increase in the fees and at the Joint Select Committee on the Jury Act, I would like the first order of business to deal with jury tampering," he sought to explain.