Stronger legislation key to improving security - Rohee

Stronger legislation key to improving security – Rohee

Feb 19, 2009 News

Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee has placed the need for stronger legislation high on the list of priorities for the strengthening of the security of the nation.
Speaking during the debate on the 2009 National Budget, Rohee said that in dealing with the security sector, one has to ensure that there is strong legislation since this will prevent members of the country’s security forces from operating outside of the law. Recently the security forces have been accused of operating outside the confines of international regulations with allegations of torture and corruption topping the list.
“Since it is not our desire to have any of the legitimate law enforcement agencies operating outside of the law…it behooves us in this administration to put those laws and regulations in place,” Rohee told the National Assembly.
He explained that this is necessary in order to combat organized crime, corruption, money laundering and the financing of terrorism as well as drug trafficking.
Rohee pointed to the 10 pieces of anti-crime legislation that were passed in the National Assembly last year, nine of which have already been assented to by President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Among them were the controversial ‘wire tapping law’ and the Firearms Amendment Act, which allows for the refusal of bail for persons accused of firearms violations.
Another component of maintaining a strong security sector in Guyana has to do with the criminal justice system. According to Rohee, having made strong interventions in the security environment, the next step for the administration is to address the criminal justice system to ensure that citizens have access to justice, particularly those most vulnerable of becoming victims of crime.
He said that this therefore means that the administration has to promote and facilitate policies and programmes to address overcrowding within the prison system and rehabilitation of prisoners.
Rohee noted that there are too many issues that impinge on the smooth and effective running of the criminal justice system and it is with the expectation that the speedy implementation of the justice sector reform, the criminal justice system will undergo tremendous changes.
“It will be able to improve citizens’ security, improve crime scene management, enhance systems of managing evidence, strengthen the police witness protection programme and reduce the backlog of cases, which continues to be a major bugbear in the system.
With already more than 1000 new cases placed before the courts in Georgetown and Providence alone so far this year, there is a growing belief that there should be more mediation at the police station level to ease the burdensome tasks on the magistracy. It has been pointed out that with the increased vigilance by the police, there is bound to be a significant increase in the matters engaging the courts.
But as it is turning out, the situation is becoming overwhelming for magistrates in the city.
Last year in excess of 11,000 new matters, of which about sixty percent were for traffic violations, were taken to court by the police.
With seven permanent and two temporary magistrates operating in Georgetown and Providence, the number of cases going before them could be overwhelming.
Figures released by the ministry indicated that the number of remanded prisoners who have not had their cases heard from one to four years amount to 752, while the number of convicted prisoners awaiting trial in the High Court between one to four years amount to 103.
According to the Home Affairs Minister, one of the major difficulties facing the administration is the question of repeat offenders.
This, he said, includes persons who are accused of committing acts while on bail for similar offences.
In addition, the question of civilian witnesses not attending court is also cause for concern.
He said that the justice reform programme should be able to address these matters.

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Stronger legislation key to improving security – Rohee

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