AG: Criminal backlog will fall

He added, “The Criminal Proceedings Rules coming in 2017 is very much like the Civil Proceedings Rules.” Government MPs thumped their desks as Al-Rawi said these new rules constitute “a landmark decision of operational improvement” by the Government, the Judiciary and other key stakeholders. Noting the rules were signed off by the criminal justice committee which had representation from his ministry, Al-Rawi said the new rules were, “subject to the scrutiny of criminal attorneys for almost one year.” He said the Law Association continued to play a vital role in this exercise by offering training to attorneys with respect to the rules over the next two months.

Earlier in the sitting, Community Development, Culture and the Arts Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby- Dolly said Government was willing to consider assistance with security for the Temple in the Sea in Waterloo. However she said because the temple is listed as a place of worship under the National Trust, this is where the request should be made.

Acting Planning Minister Colm Imbert said he was advised that the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is doing all it can to treat with reports of pollution off the north and north west coastline of Trinidad. He said he would ensure the EMA does what is required to inform the public about this matter. Public Utilities Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said water restrictions in Tobago “remain firmly in force” because of below average rainfall in Tobago. He added the TT Meteorological Service is projecting there will be below average rainfall in May, June and July.

Hinds said amendments will be made, “once the situation has improved.” He reminded citizens to exercise water conservation practices