According to Education Minister Francis Fonseca, this Senior Courts Bill also contemplates an important change in the way the court handles divorces between married couples.

Here's how he explained that the "contentious fault" grounds for divorces will be removed:

Hon. Francis Fonseca - Minister of Education
"The bill also, Madam Speaker, removes contentious fault grounds in divorce proceedings. Currently, there are five grounds to petition the courts for a divorce three marital fault grounds, namely the grounds of adultery, cruelty, and desertion, and two no-fault grounds, namely, that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, as evidenced by two years separation. And the order is based on the consent of the parties after they have been living separately and apart for one year. The Senior Courts Bill also removes provisions that are discriminatory based on sex so that husbands and wives have equal footing on judicial remedies, in divorce proceedings. It removes archaic and offensive language to modernize the law. It also establishes a rules committee, which is chaired by the Chief Justice."

The Briceno Government also tabled their substantive Married Persons (Protection) (Amendment) Bill of 2022, which is supposed to be an improvement in the laws that govern marriages and divorces.

Channel 7