Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar assured the country Monday that the fight against crime will continue and promised to take steps to speed up the justice system in an attempt to carry out the death penalty under the present law.
She was speaking following the defeat in Parliament of the constitution amendment bill that was intended to reinstate hanging as the penalty for murder, with changes to make the system work better. The bill required a special majority, which the government did not have and the opposition refused to support it.
"Whilst I say that this was a very critical and important measure in our fight against crime, it will not stop the war against crime," she told reporters. "We remain resolved, we remain determined and committed to dealing with the crime situation in this country."
The death penalty is the mandatory punishment for murder in Trinidad and Tobago. However, under the provisions of a ruling of by the Privy Council the country cannot hang anyone who has spent more than five years on death row.
That has effectively stopped hangings because the appeals process is very slow. In addition convicted killers usually petition international bodies seeking a stay of execution, which further complicates the process and causes delays.
Persad-Bissessar told the media her Government would move to bring more legislation to speed up the justice system and conclude all appeals within the five-year period.
She was speaking following the defeat in Parliament of the constitution amendment bill that was intended to reinstate hanging as the penalty for murder, with changes to make the system work better. The bill required a special majority, which the government did not have and the opposition refused to support it.
"Whilst I say that this was a very critical and important measure in our fight against crime, it will not stop the war against crime," she told reporters. "We remain resolved, we remain determined and committed to dealing with the crime situation in this country."
The death penalty is the mandatory punishment for murder in Trinidad and Tobago. However, under the provisions of a ruling of by the Privy Council the country cannot hang anyone who has spent more than five years on death row.
That has effectively stopped hangings because the appeals process is very slow. In addition convicted killers usually petition international bodies seeking a stay of execution, which further complicates the process and causes delays.
Persad-Bissessar told the media her Government would move to bring more legislation to speed up the justice system and conclude all appeals within the five-year period.
She said the Government is working closely with Chief Justice Ivor Archie to make sure that there are more court houses in the country. And she said Cabinet will consider bringing back the "hanging bill" in the next session of Parliament.
She said by that time the people would have judged the opposition by speaking out on the issue of hanging and change its position. She charged them of playing games Monday, noting that government agreed to all their recommendations on the bill.
"I am of the view that their strategy was deliberate, it was planned, it was deliberate," she said. Persad-Bissessar said Rowley should not have allowed his personal emotions to take precedence over national issues, calling such behaviour "an insult to the people of this country".
She also said Rowley failed as a leader to give direction and consensus from the Opposition benches in the debate and questioned who advised the government.
She said by that time the people would have judged the opposition by speaking out on the issue of hanging and change its position. She charged them of playing games Monday, noting that government agreed to all their recommendations on the bill.
"I am of the view that their strategy was deliberate, it was planned, it was deliberate," she said. Persad-Bissessar said Rowley should not have allowed his personal emotions to take precedence over national issues, calling such behaviour "an insult to the people of this country".
She also said Rowley failed as a leader to give direction and consensus from the Opposition benches in the debate and questioned who advised the government.
The Prime Minister noted that other legislation to fight crime include the Anti Gang Bill, legislation to abolish preliminary enquiries, plea bargaining legislation, amendments to the DNA act, a review of the prisons legislation and firearms legislation.
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