Monday’s passage of the (Bail Amendment) Bill in Parliament with strong bipartisan support provides more than a glimmer of hope for us in our battle against crime.
The vote by parliamentarians on both sides of the political divide to approve this significant anti-crime legislation is also a welcome fillip for those of us who are eager for a turning point in our current political discourse that makes us believe that our Government and Opposition will never be able to agree on anything, particularly when it is in the national interest to so do.
We note that with this amendment, repeat offenders or individuals facing charges will no longer be granted bail for the crime of murder—a provision that was in place up until 2022 but, in the absence of opposition support, could not be extended by Government since it required a special majority.
The position of the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) at the time was that it did not perceive the legislation as necessary, pointing to the Government’s inability to reduce serious homicides even with its implementation.
This argument was countered by government officials and some commentators, who argued that although the law did not achieve its intended purpose, the country had no better alternative.
Supporters of the legislation also asserted that the Opposition was simply resisting it in the hope that the Government would fail on crime, thus presenting the UNC as a better option to govern the country.
If this assertion had any substance, then the passage of the bill on Monday holds even greater significance, as it signifies a change in perspective from politically expedient decision-making to that which is truly in the best interest of the country.
This was indeed the sense we got from Opposition Leader Persad-Bissessar when she rose to speak on the bill on Monday, emphasising to the House of Representatives that the Opposition’s backing was based on the importance of public safety and security.
And even if, as some UNC opponents may argue, political considerations still influenced this decision, it is undeniably a more successful approach for the Opposition to garner support from all citizens in the fight against crime.
Nonetheless, using crime as a tool in furtherance of political ambitions is never advised.
In fact, the lack of support from the Opposition in the Red House for previous anti-crime legislation has only played into the hands of criminals.
Likewise, the Government’s failure to reduce the number of murders despite having a legislative arsenal at its disposal has negatively affected its credibility in tackling the issue.
This is why Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley must be constantly reminded of his famous statement as Opposition Leader in 2012 when he cautioned Mrs Persad-Bissessar that if her Government can’t deal with crime, “then the government itself is part of the problem.”
Our hope is that the progress made this week will enable us to overcome the obstacles posed by political adversaries and allow us to be able to concentrate on what is most beneficial for the nation.
As for the revelation by the Attorney General that almost half of the male inmates in 2019 had prior convictions, we note that this figure would be even more alarming if it included those accused of murder—a situation that this bill is now capable of averting.
However, it is essential that two critical steps are taken: First, the Government and Judiciary must ensure the utmost efficiency of this law, and second, the Opposition must continue to back sound anti-crime legislation introduced in Parliament.
By doing so, the public will view their representatives as part of the solution, working together for the common good of the country, rather than being themselves, a part of the problem.