PORT OF SPAIN – The motion of no-confidence against Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has been formally filed and placed on the Order Paper of the House of Representatives Thursday.
However, Government has not yet indicated when they would debate the motion. Government only needs to give one day’s notice for the debate.
Yesterday, the House debated the Bail Amendment Bill, which seeks to restrict the granting of bail in respect of certain offences involving the use or possession of firearms. The bill had been introduced by former attorney general Anand Ramlogan.
Yesterday, however, it was piloted by Attorney General Garvin Nicholas, who said the bill was not too draconian.
“Government acknowledges that we are proposing to increase the restrictions on bail, in a manner to move from a requirement of conviction to a requirement of a charge,” he said. “However, we feel this necessary, given the statistical fact that firearms have been the weapon of choice for the criminally inclined.”
Nicholas said Government’s decision to bring this legislation was based on the statistics for firearm-related crimes which the country is facing.
“It is for this reason that the requirement of one or more convictions remains (for denying bail) for other types of serious crimes. We feel that the Government needs to send a strong warning to the members of the society considering carrying out (crimes) using firearms that they would face harsh consequences for their actions.” (Trinidad Express)