UNC offering legal help for victims of crime

IN the midst of an escalating crime wave in the country, the United National Congess (UNC) has offered legal assistance to victims of crime in getting monetary compensation from the State. This was revealed by MP for Siparia Kamla Persad Bissessar to an appreciative audience at  the UNC Monday night People’s Forum, at the East Indian Friendly Society Hall, at Gasparillo. “I want to say to you that we in the UNC offer assistance to all victims and dependents of victims of crime. We will take up your matters with respect to getting you the compensation to force the Prime Minister and Government to compensate you because they have failed to protect you,” Bissessar said. She invited victims of crime to visit their respective MP’s, adding “we are standing by ready to protect you.”

Bissessar explained that the Criminal Injuries Compen-sation Act was proclaimed and came into law in 2000 and every victim of crime, or the dependent of a victim can apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB) and get money because the State had failed to protect them under the law.  However, she said to date the PM had not appointed a CICB. Last week,  Lilwatie Ramc-haran, whose husband was murdered a year ago, filed a lawsuit in the San Fernando Civil Court against Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s failture to appoint a CICB. The woman, who was represented by Bissessar and Carol Cuffy Dowlat, was granted leave by the judge to apply for judicial review of the PM’s failure to do so. Opposition Senator Robin Montano reiterated his call for the resignation of Senate President, Linda Baboolal. He told his audience he could not respect a biased Senate President. “I am a bad boy because I stand up not only for my rights, but for the 3,000 odd people who voted for the UNC,” he declared.At the end of the meeting, Subhas Panday, MP for Princes Town, apologised for the Opposition Leader’s absence and jokingly added that he may be suffering from a case of “Sinananitis.”