House to debate package of anti-crime and violence legislation
The Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda will convene today Tuesday, to consider what many believe to be the most comprehensive set of legislation to address crime and violence in the country.
The Gaston Browne administration has indicated that changes to a number of legislation on the books are designed to take the fight to criminals and act as a deterrent to youth crime and violence.
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The Honourable Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs, Public Safety, Immigration and Labour, Steadroy Benjamin (subject to the approval of Honourable Members) will move the first, second and third readings of the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Small Charges (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Anti-Gang Bill, 2024; the Child Justice (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Magistrate’s Code of Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and the Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to address the growing concerns surrounding the increase in crime. By increasing the penalties for possession and removing the option of violation tickets, the government intends to reinforce the seriousness of drug-related offences and reduce the accessibility and appeal of cannabis, particularly to the youth.
These measures are part of a broader strategy to combat crime and restore public safety. The Bill seeks to better align with current social realities and to enhance the deterrent effect of the law in preventing drug-related crimes, particularly among the youth. The amendments remove the restrictions on possession of cannabis. It increases the penalty to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars.
The Small Charges (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is designed to maintain law and order by discouraging the practice of children under the age of 18 years loitering and requiring them to be accompanied by a parent between the hours of 10 pm to 6 am.
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If the child is caught committing the offence of loitering, the police is empowered to take action upon any child by taking the child home to the parent or to the police station where the child will be collected by the parent.
The law sets out that if the offence is committed a first time, the parent of the child may be subject to a fine of two thousand dollars. If the offence is committed for a second time, the fine is increased to three thousand dollars. Where the parent is being charged for a third time or any subsequent occurrence, the parent may be charged a fine of five thousand dollars and to imprisonment for a term of two years.
The Anti-Gang Bill, 2024, which is a new legislation, is designed to maintain law and order by discouraging membership of gangs and punishing gangs and gang-related activities.
Among the areas addressed in this Bill are the offence of being a gang leader, gang member, recruiting a gang member, aiding and abetting a gang, harbouring a gang member, concealing and gang leader or member, offence of taking retaliatory action and the offence of possession of bullet proof vest, firearm, ammunition or prohibited weapon for gang-related activity.
Under the law, the police will have the power of arrest without a warrant and may enter and search any premises with the consent of the owner or occupier. The law also provides for minors to be treated as adults, including being sentences for a term of imprisonment as an adult.
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The Child Justice (Amendment) bill, 2024 provides for the mechanism to combat the excessive loitering in Antigua and Barbuda of persons under the age of 18. The Bill also provides for a child who commits an offence under the Act to be released to a parent or be released into the care of a secure residential facility. In addition, if an offence is committed under the Act and the minor 14 and older is sentenced, that person can be referred to prison with a maximum sentence of ten years.
The Magistrate’s Code of Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024 increases the sentencing powers of the Magistrate and for other connected matters. It adds indictable offences under Anti-Gang Act 2024 to the list of offences which the Magistrate is not permitted to grant bail.
In addition, it increases the penalty that can be imposed by a Magistrate from 2 years for a conviction for a single offence to five years; and for multiple convictions to be sentenced together, the penalty has increased from 5 to 7 years.
The House will also debate the Firearms Amendment Bill, 2024 which increases the penalty for several firearms offences to include possession, carrying, selling or transferring, possessing firearms or ammunition with intent to injure and penalty for use and possession of firearms or imitation firearm in certain circumstances.
In addition, the House will debate the Airport Administration Charge Amendment Bill 2024 which will see the Airport Administration Charge (AAC) to be collected by IATA as US$4.00 instead of EC$10. The amount is paid into the Climate Resilience and Development Fund.
In addition, the House will move a resolution approving the Appointment of Anthony Kurt Athill as Information Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda.
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And you would think the UPP Parliamentarians would be there in their full numbers? Shuggy is off island and so far Pringle was late and Walker is missing as well. They simply do not care about any crime fighting attempt by the government. Yet they want to critique when crime goes up. What a set of Loosers, Laggards and Conmen.
Mr. Pringle needs help. He can only read from what was prepared for him. He cannot reason or think on his feet
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