BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - ATTORNEY GENERAL and Minister of Legal Affairs Hon. Patrice Nisbett, revealed that the issue of fighting and preventing crime has been eating into and continues to eat into the financial resources of the government which is already scarce.
He made this revelation while addressing members of the legal fraternity at the opening of the new law term at the High Court in Basseterre on Tuesday (Sept. 18).
"Presently our criminal justice system is incredibly costly. Change is needed if we are to address crime effectively and at the same time protect our security and freedom. The ever mounting cost of fighting crime, prosecuting crime and maintaining an adequate and secure prison is eating into our scarce financial resources. Maybe it is time science and technology alleviate difficulties that we are now confronted with," he explained.
Acknowledging some of the measures his ministry put in place in the last law term, including the legislations passed to assist with the fight against crime, the Attorney General noted that the government will continue to provide the necessary tools to the law enforcement agency and put in place whatever it takes to keep the Federation safe.
With regards to the legislation, AG Nisbett listed the laws that have been passed to address the Federation's crime situation.
"We have placed on the statute books the Gang Prohibition and Prevention Act 2011, the Evidence Act, the Magistrate Code of Procedure Amendment Act, and we also did a brand new Bail Act."
The Attorney General also made mention of the Bills which he wishes to have introduced in the new law year.
"The government, in its effort to reform the criminal justice system, intends in the new year to introduce into the National Assembly the following Bill: The DNA Bill 2012 which seeks to introduce modernised procedures to DNA testing. The Jury Bill 2012 which seeks to modernise and enhance the performance for the jury system.
"The question of trial by judge alone for indictable matters will also be addressed. The Criminal Procedure Bill which seeks to refine the law relating to criminal procedure, and lastly, the Sexual Offences Bill which seeks to refine this area of the law."
The AG said that in the new law year, the government intends to embark on a new project relating to the codification of the laws of the Federation, noting that at the end of the project, the ministers will table in the National Assembly a Bill entitled the Criminal Code Bill.
"The production of the criminal code is another aspect of the legislation reform which the government has initiated in relation to our criminal justice system in order to strengthen the delivery of criminal justice," he said.
The Attorney General said that legislative reform such as these will go a long way in enhancing the rule of law and strengthening the justice system which is of paramount importance to all.
