Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

DPP not consulted when legislative amendments done to criminal laws

DPP not consulted when legislative amendments done to criminal laws

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Tiffany Scatliffe-Esprit has called for better consultation with her office after claiming she was left out of the drafting of amendments to the outdated Criminal Procedure Act.

The DPP appeared before the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recently and described a number of legislative shortcomings that have negatively impacted the effective functioning of her office.

Asked by COI attorney, Bilal Rawat, whether her office is consulted when changes are made to the Criminal Code, the DPP said this doesn’t happen as much as it should be.

“Where it is necessary to get our support, we’re informed – ‘this is a bill and we want you to look at it’ – but when it comes to what I refer to as the piecemeal amendments to the criminal code, especially to make things right, for lack of better phrasing … we are not consulted,” she said.

“I am aware of other legislation passed — firearms amendments and other things — where amendments were made and we find out with the rest of the members of the public. We’re not told. And we are the ones that have to go out there,” she added.

The DPP said most times her office is not properly consulted on legislative amendments and they would at times belatedly get legislation that was already read for the first time in the House of Assembly. She said it is only then officials come saying, “Hey we have this piece of legislation, what you think of it?”.

She said if her office gives feedback that the proposed amendments can’t work, this then stalemates the process of getting the legislation passed.

Scatliffe-Esprit said her office was, however, consulted on the recent Terrorism Financing Act but said, most times, especially with amendments to the criminal code, her office is “left out of the equation”.

Revamp or remove criminal code completely


When asked what she would like done to the 1997 Criminal Code, the DPP responded: “It needs to be revamped, probably trashed and bring in something brand new.”

She stated that the legislation is outdated, particularly with regard to sexual offences.

“They’re all gender-based. That’s not how it is now with sexual offences. Someone should be able to be charged with sexual offences regardless if they’re a man or a woman, or whether that victim is a girl child or a boy child,” the DPP stated.

According to Scatliffe-Esprit, the current criminal code describes rape as vaginal rape.

“Rape has become something universal now — that expands that. There is nothing for sodomy, there is nothing for buggery. If there is a buggery charge, we actually have to go to the offences against a person act, which was repealed except for the section on buggery,” she said.

The DPP also said the sentences for most of the offences are outdated while some offences, such as that of kidnapping needs to be simplified.

“The way it is written and is drafted is very difficult to prove as it is,” she stated.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
×