TT’s DNA Act being redrafted

The redrafting comes in the wake of various talks held with British Forensic experts who arrived in the country just over a week ago.

The two-member British team included Eric Downham, head of the UK Forensic Policy Unit, and Lisa Webb-Salter, programme manager of Forensic Sciences in the UK. They both met with Fitzgerald Hinds, Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security.

During the past week, the visitors also met with the relevant units of the ministry during which the local DNA Act of 2000 was reviewed.

Last Friday, the Ministry of National Security hosted a forum on the United Kingdom DNA legislation and the local DNA Act for all parliamentarians who are attorneys. The visiting forensic experts were involved in the forum which took place at the Nalis building.

Among those in attendance were Hinds, who chaired the proceedings; Senator Robin Montano, Senator Dana Seetahal, Russell Martineau, Larry Lalla, Ravi Rajcoomar and Vishwanath Rambaran of the Law Association, Colleen Murray and Michelle Beckles of the ministry’s Legal Unit, and Nafeeza Mohammed of the Attorney General’s Office. During the past week, another computer forensic expert met with various divisions of the Ministry of National Security, assessed various equipment employed in the field of computer forensics, and made recommendations to improve the efficiency of evidence gathering.

Meanwhile, additional areas have been identified for training of local computer forensic personnel to enhance their effectiveness.