Stiffer penalties for persons disrespecting the sanctity of cemeteries

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 4TH 2009 (CUOPM)  – Stiffer penalties for persons who show disrespect for cemeteries in St. Kitts and Nevis.
 
The St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly which meets on Thursday is being asked to approve a penalty of EC$1150 for unacceptable conduct in public cemeteries.
 
The proposed amendment of Section 21 of the Act makes provisions to further protect and maintain the sanctity of the public cemeteries in St Kitts and Nevis. The proposed amendment together with other existing legislation seeks to make a clear statement with respect to the type of conduct which is acceptable in public cemeteries.
 
Currently several provisions in the legislation deal with appropriate conduct in public cemeteries and these provisions include that it is an offence to damage or destroy anything in a public cemetery pursuant to section 20 of the Cemeteries Act.
 
 It is an offence to play games or sports, discharge firearms, disturb a funeral or other memorial ceremony or commit any other type on nuisance within a cemetery pursuant to section 21.
 
 Public cemeteries are open to the public from sunrise to sunset pursuant to regulations, smoking is strictly prohibited within a cemetery and persons must conduct themselves in a quiet, orderly manner and must not stand or sit on the gravestones or enclosure walls of the cemetery and must enter or leave through the gates.
 
The legislation is proposing that the penalty be increased from EC$96 to EC$1150.
 
The Cemeteries Act came into force in 1911 and was revised through the Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Act, No. 7 of 1976 and the Law Revision Act, No. 9 of 1986.