Stuart: No bail for gun crimes

IF YOU are held with an illegal gun, you will be jailed for four months without the chance of bail, under new legislation, Minister of national Security Stuart Young said on Thursday at the post Cabinet briefing, at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s.

He said Cabinet had agreed to amend the Bail Act to try to curb the scourge of illegal firearms. His ministry and the Office of the Attorney General had drafted proposals as the first prong in a legislative solution to illegal guns.

“The Government will take a very frontal and strong approach,” he vowed, saying the use of illegal guns by criminals in TT is a real problem.

“Any person who is apprehended with an illegal firearm on their person will not be permitted bail for up to 120 days. You are not going to have a right to bail for up to 120 days.”

Young also vowed to tackle repeat offenders.

“You are out on bail while you have matters pending in court and you are held with an illegal firearm, then again no bail.”

Young then sought to define the “matters pending.”

“We are looking to amend the first schedule of the Bail Act. If you are out on bail and then held by law enforcement and charged with any of the following offences, you will not have a right to bail.” He listed offences such as gang activity, kidnapping, terrorism, trafficking in persons, sexual offences against a child, plus crimes with a 10 jail penalty under the Offences Against the Person Act, Sexual Offences Act, Firearms Act or Dangerous Drugs Act.

At present the Bail Act (first schedule) denies bail to anyone charged with murder, treason, piracy or hijacking, or an offence invoking the death penalty.

The Act at present also denies bail to someone charged with a crime in the second schedule if they have already been convicted of three similar offences (such as rape, robbery, narcotics trafficking and firearms trafficking.)

Young said the Police Service had asked for the fresh amendments, and said the Office of the AG will also draft legislation to stop the trafficking in firearms.