Nicholson

SENIOR People's National Party (PNP) officer A.J. Nicholson said the absence of Opposition members' signatures from a report of the joint-select committees, which deliberated on the six anti-crime bills, is not an indication that PNP parliamentarians will attempt to stall the passage of the landmark legislations.

"The report was not properly written, and that is why we did not sign it," Nicholson told The Gleaner.

Prime Minster Bruce Golding had accused the PNP in November of backtracking on its commitment to get the crime bills passed.

'Make up your mind'

"The Opposition needs to make up its mind on which side it wants to rest," Golding said at the Jamaica Labour Party annual conference.

"I am saying to the opposition leader, you cannot run with the hare and hunt with the hounds," Golding said then.

Nicholson, a former attorney general and justice minister, said the PNP would not be standing in the way of the bills' passage.

The report from the joint-select committee was tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, but Nicholson said it was not properly done as it lacks recommendations to Parliament regarding how to proceed.

More than 1,400 Jamaicans have been murdered since the start of the year, 80 per cent of which National Security Minister Colonel Trevor MacMillan said were believed to be gang related.

Under pressure to arrest the crime problem, Golding, in July, met with the Opposition at Vale Royal and discussed a menu of legislative problems to attack the beast.

The prime minister later said Jamaica was experiencing extraordinary times which required extraordinary measures.

Then came the anti-crime bills, which drew condemnation from human rights activists, many of whom dismissed them as draconian.

Meanwhile, the report from the joint-select committee stated that the "committee is genuinely concerned about the level of crime plaguing the country and instilling fear in the entire population".

"All members share the view that there is need to promulgate legislation that will stem the scourge of crime," the report added.

Three pieces of legislation have been crafted on the anti-crime menu, all of which will expire after one year.

One of them is the interim bail provision which is a two-strike rule. Under this proposed provision a person who has had a previous conviction for certain offences and has been brought before the courts may be granted bail only after 60 days, commencing on the date on which he was first charged.

A divisional commander, or an officer not below the rank of assistant commissioner of police may detain or arrest anyone within a locality where the security forces are carrying out an operation.

However, the officer must have reasonable grounds for the arrest and must inform the person being arrested and take him before a justice of the peace who will make the determination as to whether the grounds are reasonable.

Hearing of appeal

The person arrested under this section must be taken before a resident magistrate within 72 hours.

A hearing of an appeal under this section must commence within 72 hours after oral notice of appeal is given.

Proposals under the Firearms Act include imposing minimum sentences of 15 years for gun offences such as possession, use, manufacturing, importation and dealing.

A similar minimum 15-year sentence is proposed under the Offences Against the Persons Act for wounding with intent with the use of a firearm or shooting with the intent to commit grievous bodily harm.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com

Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller exit the doors of Vale Royal, in St Andrew, on Wednesday, June 11. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer