Caption: The Red House, which hosts Trinidad and Tobago Parliament, at night. AZP News/Prior Beharry
By Dr Neil Gosine
On July 1, 2024, in its usual way to support good legislation the opposition in Trinidad and Tobago, led by the United National Congress (UNC), supported the government’s Bail Amendment Bill in Parliament.
There is normally an adversarial relationship between the two major political parties in the country but we must remember that the opposition does support the government when the bills put forward is for the benefit of all citizens.
The opposition saw that the bill would make a difference and in their view help the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Firstly, the bill was seen as a good measure to address the escalating crime situation in this country. Attorney General Reginald Armour tried to show that the bill aimed to provide law enforcement with critical tools to fight serious crimes, such as firearm offenses and drug trafficking, by restricting the conditions under which bail could be granted for specific high-risk offense.
The opposition, is known to fiercely fight for good laws as the government normally comes with half-baked bills therefore their criticisms and initial resistance was seen quite clearly on this one.
However, the urgent need to increase the legal framework in light of the recent crime surge was the driving force here for the opposition’s support. They had previously supported the government on crime bills and continue to support measures that will assist every citizen.
The opposition clearly recognised the importance of using proper legal tools available for crime prevention. By aiding the government, the UNC wanted to ensure that effective crime-fighting strategies were not hindered by political maneuvering. However, just last weekend we saw the country’s senior police officers, led by Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher, have again put all police officers on alert to try to curb the violence and murders in this country. They are all supposed to be on high alert following a violent and bloody weekend last week which resulted in 15 people being killed.
This UNC’s support was directly influenced by the inclusion of judicial oversight within the amendment which the opposition insisted on having. This provision allows the courts to review and grant bail under exceptional circumstances, ensuring a balance between public safety and individual rights. This aspect of the bill helped to ensure that their concerns about potential abuses of power and the protection of constitutional rights have been addressed.
The only thing is that the minister of national security and the CoP continue to disappoint us terribly. The CoP words of assurances to communities that have seen mass shootings such as Mango Rose, Harpe Place, Gonzales and Powder Magazine, said it is time for the residents to “take back their communities.” What a cop out!
The UNC also emphasised the importance of ensuring that any legislation passed must withstand judicial scrutiny. This is to avoid the passage of laws that could be later overturned in our courts, which would result in wasted resources and legal challenges. This important consideration highlights their decision to support the amendment after thorough deliberation.
The bipartisan support for the Bail Amendment Bill in Trinidad and Tobago on July 1, 2024, was driven by a urgent need to address the crime rate, the incorporation of judicial safeguards, and a focus on creating long-lasting and effective legislation.
This cooperation marked another instance where the opposition is here to support the citizens in the country’s legislative process, highlighting the potential for better Governance in tackling critical national issues. They will definitely make a better Government.
Neil Gosine is an insurance executive. He is sometimes a temporary Opposition Senator, an ex-treasurer of the UNC and a former chairman of the National Petroleum Marketing Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NP). He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, a Master’s in Business Administration MBA, BSC in Mathematics and a BA in Administrative Studies. The views and comments expressed in this column are not necessarily those of AZP News, a Division of Complete Image Limited.
Commentary: Opposition Support to Fight Crime
Caption: The Red House, which hosts Trinidad and Tobago Parliament, at night. AZP News/Prior Beharry
On July 1, 2024, in its usual way to support good legislation the opposition in Trinidad and Tobago, led by the United National Congress (UNC), supported the government’s Bail Amendment Bill in Parliament.
There is normally an adversarial relationship between the two major political parties in the country but we must remember that the opposition does support the government when the bills put forward is for the benefit of all citizens.
The opposition saw that the bill would make a difference and in their view help the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Firstly, the bill was seen as a good measure to address the escalating crime situation in this country. Attorney General Reginald Armour tried to show that the bill aimed to provide law enforcement with critical tools to fight serious crimes, such as firearm offenses and drug trafficking, by restricting the conditions under which bail could be granted for specific high-risk offense.
The opposition, is known to fiercely fight for good laws as the government normally comes with half-baked bills therefore their criticisms and initial resistance was seen quite clearly on this one.
However, the urgent need to increase the legal framework in light of the recent crime surge was the driving force here for the opposition’s support. They had previously supported the government on crime bills and continue to support measures that will assist every citizen.
The opposition clearly recognised the importance of using proper legal tools available for crime prevention. By aiding the government, the UNC wanted to ensure that effective crime-fighting strategies were not hindered by political maneuvering. However, just last weekend we saw the country’s senior police officers, led by Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher, have again put all police officers on alert to try to curb the violence and murders in this country. They are all supposed to be on high alert following a violent and bloody weekend last week which resulted in 15 people being killed.
This UNC’s support was directly influenced by the inclusion of judicial oversight within the amendment which the opposition insisted on having. This provision allows the courts to review and grant bail under exceptional circumstances, ensuring a balance between public safety and individual rights. This aspect of the bill helped to ensure that their concerns about potential abuses of power and the protection of constitutional rights have been addressed.
The only thing is that the minister of national security and the CoP continue to disappoint us terribly. The CoP words of assurances to communities that have seen mass shootings such as Mango Rose, Harpe Place, Gonzales and Powder Magazine, said it is time for the residents to “take back their communities.” What a cop out!
The UNC also emphasised the importance of ensuring that any legislation passed must withstand judicial scrutiny. This is to avoid the passage of laws that could be later overturned in our courts, which would result in wasted resources and legal challenges. This important consideration highlights their decision to support the amendment after thorough deliberation.
The bipartisan support for the Bail Amendment Bill in Trinidad and Tobago on July 1, 2024, was driven by a urgent need to address the crime rate, the incorporation of judicial safeguards, and a focus on creating long-lasting and effective legislation.
This cooperation marked another instance where the opposition is here to support the citizens in the country’s legislative process, highlighting the potential for better Governance in tackling critical national issues. They will definitely make a better Government.
Neil Gosine is an insurance executive. He is sometimes a temporary Opposition Senator, an ex-treasurer of the UNC and a former chairman of the National Petroleum Marketing Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NP). He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, a Master’s in Business Administration MBA, BSC in Mathematics and a BA in Administrative Studies. The views and comments expressed in this column are not necessarily those of AZP News, a Division of Complete Image Limited.