Trial by Judge Alone bill before special committee

The purpose of the bill is to “amend the Offences Against the Person Act and the Criminal Procedures Act and for related matters”.

The bill was withdrawn from the Committee stage at yesterday’s Senate sitting based on a recommendation of opposition senator Wade Mark and supported by independent senator Dr Dhanayshar Mahabir.

The special select committee will be chaired by government senator Clarence Rambharat. The other members are government senators Michael Coppin and Daniel Dookie, opposition senator Gerald Ramdeen and independent senator Sophia Chote.

The decision to withdraw the bill from the committee stage was taken by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi after several suggestions were made by the opposition to strengthen the legislation in content and wording.

According to leader of government business Franklin Khan, the Senate will reconvene at the committee stage on June 22. A vote is expected to be taken on the bill on that date.

The legislation is expected to provide an option for trial by a judge alone.

Trials in the high court are done before a judge and jury.

Welcoming some of the proposals from Ramdeen, Al-Rawi said the special select committee would be able to “treat with a lacuna (gap) in the law” including how it treats with someone detained at the court’s pleasure and a mentally ill person.

He said there was also need to address the use of old language in the law.

Al-Rawi said another potential gap in the legislation is how to treat with minors in relation to the Children’s Act.

“The good news is we are working on a host of amendments which will treat with that,” he said.