- Prime Minister proposes changes to how the courts handle certain criminal matters.
- The government has a clear strategy for crime.
The government of St. Vincent (SVG) is suggesting a set of modifications to the procedures followed by the courts in dealing with specific criminal cases. The proposed measures encompass the duration which the police can detain a suspect without pressing charges, the elimination of jury trials for murder and some other crimes, stricter punishments for illegal firearms, and modifications to the system for presenting evidence.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves stated on Thursday that these suggested modifications demonstrate his government’s distinct strategy for combating crime.
“I’ve met with and discussed a number of other reforms with members of the regional judiciary, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the police, the previous commissioner, and now this commissioner.” We will almost certainly have to go to Parliament to lengthen the duration you can hold someone. “It’s now 48 hours, maybe a little longer,” Gonsalves remarked.
“We’ve done something in terms of preliminary inquiries.” However, defending counsel will continue to insist on a preliminary inquiry rather than a paper committal with the statements being made.”
Gonsalves suggested the possibility of revoking the defense’s right and allowing the presiding magistrate to make a decision solely based on the available documents.
“The magistartae may say, Listen, I’ve read these documents, and I’m sending this forward on that basis”.
Gonsalves stated that this action reduces the duration and expedites the trial process at the High Court, rather than allowing a backlog to accumulate.
Gonsalves noted that this implies the necessity of increasing the number of judges in the country, since it would expedite the processing of cases.
He expressed his expectation of encountering opposition from human rights groups on the proposed legal amendments aimed at eliminating jury trials for murder.
Regarding penalties for illegal firearms, the Prime Minister has declared that an amnesty will be implemented, which he officially proclaimed on Independence Day.
“I am urging people with illegal firearms to surrender them because, after the amnesty, there would be higher penalties. Now you can get 18 months or three years, but after the amnesty and changes to the law, a person can get five years or six years,” Gonsalves said.
