Ramlogan said the law is also meant to discourage those thinking of entering gangs.
The Upper House was debating a report from a joint select committee report that considered the proposed legislation along with a bail amendment bill.
The AG said such a measure is important because persons must accept responsibility for buying items that have been stolen.
“So if you buying a thick gold chain from someone you know doesn’t have a job or is part of the criminal system, you’re equally guilty,” Ramlogan said.
“Gangs seem to have parallel gangs with supply and distribution lines to sell fruits of their illegal activity and get back hard cash—all of this will be subject to the law under the legislation,” Ramlogan added.
Ramlogan lamented the change in the country, noting that today instead of the nation's future resting in the schoolbags of children those bags now carry knives, guns and drugs.
With respect to the bail bill, Ramlogan said there will be stiff penalties for anyone caught recruiting young persons outside schools and institutions.
The bill provides for 10 years for gang recruiters being within 500 yards of such places and double that penalty for anyone who is closer than that limit.
Ramlogan spoke of the manner in which gangs initiate members. Some gangs, he said, demand that a new member kill someone to gain entry. Once in, the member faces death for leaving the gang.
The AG said the bill also aims to deal with people claiming to be from religious or other groups who attempt to extort money from business people with the threat of kidnapping, noting that such a problem has existed in central Trinidad for a “very long time.”
He said culprits often offered to call off the kidnapping for a large “mobilisation fee."
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