Buggered boy’s murder moves Mark

“While we’re debating these bills today, which are designed to help modernise the police service, the crime monster continues to haunt the land.”

“Madame President, legislation alone will not address the crime wave in the country. Sean Luke became the 102 murder victim yesterday, and the forty-fourth in the month of March. This month has been described as the bloodiest to date,” Mark said.

It was while Mark was referring to the nine crime bills the Government promised to work on, that Attorney General John Jeremie intervened to announce that legislation for the establishment of a gun and kidnapping court has already been prepared and was next on the agenda.

Jeremie said, “I am pleased to announce that a committee has been set up with members of the judiciary and other key stake holders, the DPP, Legal Aid and the Commissioner of Police, to implement the kidnapping court.”

Jeremie did not mention Luke’s murder.

Also in his contribution, Mark said for the first time in the history of the country, the veto power enjoyed by many prime ministers to directly appoint a commissioner of police has been removed.

“All police commissioners will now fall under the searchlight of Parliament, the people’s representative,” Mark said.

“No longer would the Prime Minister use his authority to call Everald Snaggs (a retired commissioner) to Whitehall, take out an envelope he got from the PSC from his pocket, and say I’m appointing you police commissioner. No longer would the PM be able to abuse his powers.”

Mark also noted that, according to the amended police bills, the President, before he chose nominees for the Police Service Commission, would have to engage in meaningful consultation with the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader. Then he would have to submit the list of nominees to the House of Representatives.

“This arrangement should be extended to every service commission in the country,” Mark said. “High officials must come under public scrutiny.”

He said only then would nepotism, victimisation and discrimination be things of the past.”