CMC – Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, says his administration will soon bring legislation to Parliament providing for stiffer penalties for persons convicted of sex and firearm crimes.
Gonsalves said there would be an increase in penalties for some sexual offences as well as possession of unlicensed firearms and that the government would also be introducing legislation to regulate the tinting of vehicles.
“Because criminals or persons suspected of criminal activities have been using tinted vehicles to make detection more difficult,” said Gonsalves, who is also Minister of National Security, adding “I know some persons are going to object, but the point is this, we have to be reasonable. And we have to think of the entire country.
“I know some persons like to have the tint and be inside there and nobody can see them, and so on, privacy and all the rest of it, but the not only the evidence here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines but comparative evidence across the region and from various advisors that this is an area which we need to address.”
Gonsalves said the law to regulate tinting will be introduced soon.
“Well, I want it to be done quite quickly. But there’s a draft on it already. I’ve given my okay as Minister of Legal Affairs, chair of the Cabinet Subcommittee on Legislation,” he said, adding that the increase in the penalties for firearm possession will bring them in line with the regional averages.
“It’s fairly stiff at the moment. But it looks as though when you examine comparatively other areas we might be in terms of penalties a little below the median line, though it used to be abnormally low and we increased it. Remember it was one year, we increased it to seven years, but lots of places is 10 in the region, in some cases, 15.”
Gonsalves said the seven-year penalty does not apply to prohibited firearms, noting” I’m talking for, quote-unquote, normal firearms.”
Prime Minister Gonsalves said that there will be “some review of the penalties for some particular sexual offences where some of the penalties are not in sync with some of our own neighbours or where we consider they ought to be.”
There is often outrage here over the sentencing for indecent assault with the maximum penalty being five years imprisonment if the victim is less than 15 years old and two years imprisonment in any other case.
Gonsalves said that the government is also looking at strengthening the prisons, including the physical facilities.
“We are improving up in Belle Isle with the women’s prison, but we also have some work, a lot of work to do on the prison down in Kingstown, the old prison.
“And then there are some other organisational issues. I had a discussion with the acting Superintendent of Prisons Dwayne Bailey, who is a splendid leader, is doing a good job,” Gonsalves said.
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