PM Kamla to issue statement Thursday on Section 34

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar 

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said on Wednesday she will issue a full statement Thursday on the matter regarding the proclamation of Section 34 of the of the Administration of Justice, Indictable Proceedings Bill 2011, and the subsequent repeal of the controversial section.

In a media release, Persad-Bissessar she chose to remain silent on the issue of the bill's early proclamation "because a premature commentary on the matter before all information became available to me would have been injudicious."

The Prime Minister explained that soon after Section 34 was proclaimed, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) expressed concerns to the Attorney General regarding the implications and consequences of the event. 

She said the Attorney General "sought an immediate audience with me and having examined the matter myself, I was satisfied that the consequences and far-reaching implications of this section were not consistent with Government policy. 

"In the circumstances, I gave instructions for the Parliament to be convened immediately to consider a Bill to repeal Section 34. I also summoned the Cabinet to an emergency meeting to discuss the matter. The Government therefore moved swiftly to successfully reverse the ill-effects and unintended consequences of this section."

Persad-Bissessar said part from taking immediate and necessary action to repeal Section 34, she has been "personally enquiring into the circumstances that created the situation before us today." She said as a result she would issue a statement  after Thursday's cabinet meeting is concluded.