More jail for child kidnappers

IN LIGHT of the increase in kidnapping incidents involving children, the Downtown Owners Merchants Association (DO-MA) is appealing to the Government to increase the prison terms for child kidnappers.

DOMA’s President Gregory Aboud pleaded with Attorney General Glenda Morean-Phillip yesterday to do what is necessary to put such persons behind bars. Describing the situation as “disgusting and outrageous,” Aboud sent a message to kidnappers — “you do not kidnap children, especially girls.” He joined with Roman Catholic priest, Father Clyde Harvey, in making an appeal to leave children alone! Aboud was told by AG Morean-Phillip that there was no need to add anything to the Anti-Kidnapping Bill now before the Senate. She pointed out that the penalty in the proposed legislation stated that the term for kidnapping should not be less than 25 years. Morean-Phillip said it would be up to the individual judge in the High Court to determine the sentence a kidnapper should get when the situation arose.

Four members of DOMA — Aboud, William Latchman, Kelvin Khan, and Sase Bisnath met with the AG yesterday at Cabildo Chambers to discuss legislative measures in place to deal with the crime situation in Trinidad and Tobago. But this week’s kidnapping of six-year-old Mark Prescott and 21-year-old Kerri Greaves was the highlight of the discussions and news briefing which followed. Aboud said DOMA was very concerned at what was happening in the country. He said yesterday’s meeting followed another, two weeks ago, with the Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday. “We have accepted that there is not going to be much support in the Parliament for legislation which would require the support of the Opposition. We don’t think that is reason for us to step away from the current situation, so we are here to offer suggestions and seek guidance.” Aboud said he was hopeful that Panday and the UNC would re-think their position on the Anti-Kidnapping Bill. He also pointed out that DOMA plans meeting the Chief Justice and the Minister of National Security in an effort to find solutions to the crime problem.

AG Morean-Phillip revealed that Government was increasing the penalties contained in the Firearms Act in light of the spate of murders and other crimes involving the use of firearms. The intention, she added, is to bring the legislation in line with international standards. But the Attorney General pointed out that the Bill was not ready for Parliament. She said the proposals were sent out to stake holders for comment and she expects that the legislation will be ready for Parliament in the next two to three weeks. “Legislation is a process. It is not that the Attorney General sits down and determines what she wants in the Bill and goes ahead with it. We have to take into consideration that we live in a society that is democratic and has a very vibrant and literate civil section. We have to take people’s views into consideration. There is always consultation,” the AG added. AG Morean-Phillip said the new Firearms Act will see stiffer penalties for offenders, with guilty persons getting as many as 20 years’ imprisonment, while fines will move from $10,000 to $50,000 in some cases.