He told legislators in order to fix the problem the government will be introducing a series of tough laws “with teeth that will bite hard into the crime problem facing this country” and "pull the country back from the brink of the precipice where the PNM left it.”
Ramlogan was speaking on the Bail Bill in the House of Representatives and noted that one of thr provisions of thne bill will be the right to detain an accused for up to five days without charge.
“The right to bail has been abused and misused, and is furthering the crime problem. Once you are charged by the police in the current crime culture that is developing, it is like a badge of honour. You have elevated yourself one notch up the ladder of crime. You have a new brethren, a new fraternity, and they embrace you,” Ramlogan declared.
He stated that people who commit crimes have acommon interest: to “suffocate and stultify the administration of justice”. He said the first thing a defendant does upon getting bail is “commit more crimes to get money to pay, and finance their defence.”
Ramlogan described the bill as "the grease for...the wheels of justice to ensure that it turns more efficiently, expeditiously and fairly.”
Ramlogan listed a series of offences which will allow the police to detain persons briefly for periods of five days. These include:
- possession of an imitation firearm
- receiving stolen goods
- forced sexual intercourse with males or females under the age of 16
- purchasing an illegal firearm
The AG urged the Police Service to ensure that its officers do not abuse this “awesome responsibility” given to them, and infringe on citizens’ fundamental rights.
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