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<span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : Gonsalves stands firm ...tions (RJR)...</span>
The Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, has defended his Government's decision to seek an amendment to tighten the laws on private criminal prosecutions.The proposed change follows unsuccessful attempts by opposition elements to mount prosecutions against Dr. Gonsalves and others over statements allegedly made during December's election campaign.The Opposition has been staging demonstrations against the amendment that means that for private criminal prosecutions to go forward, they must first have the consent of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).Lawyer, Nicole Sylvester, Head of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association, said the bill should have remained because it protected ordinary people's rights to bring criminal prosecutions.Preventing an abuse of the system However, Dr. Gonsalves has denied that the changes to the law undermine people's rights to bring private prosecutions to court.He said the intention is to prevent abuse of the system by requiring the DPP to give consent.The Prime Minister said there had been abuse of the current law and what's why the DPP would be required in future to give approval to any private criminal prosecutions.The timing of the bill is a major concern for many including the Opposition which has charged that the governing party was moved to change the law because private criminal prosecutions were being served against Government Members of Parliament."Absolute rubbish ... people can always lay charges and says things. In these recent rafts of private criminal cases, the magistrate said these complaints were frivolous, vexatious and wre an abuse of the process of the court and she wouldn't even issues summons for some of them. For others, the magistrate issued summons and the DPP said these complaints didn't pass muster in terms of the evidence ... that itself is showing that the system is being abused," Dr. Gonsalves said.(Source: The BBC Caribbean Service).
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : Gonsalves stands firm ...tions (RJR)...</span>
The Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, has defended his Government's decision to seek an amendment to tighten the laws on private criminal prosecutions.The proposed change follows unsuccessful attempts by opposition elements to mount prosecutions against Dr. Gonsalves and others over statements allegedly made during December's election campaign.The Opposition has been staging demonstrations against the amendment that means that for private criminal prosecutions to go forward, they must first have the consent of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).Lawyer, Nicole Sylvester, Head of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association, said the bill should have remained because it protected ordinary people's rights to bring criminal prosecutions.Preventing an abuse of the system However, Dr. Gonsalves has denied that the changes to the law undermine people's rights to bring private prosecutions to court.He said the intention is to prevent abuse of the system by requiring the DPP to give consent.The Prime Minister said there had been abuse of the current law and what's why the DPP would be required in future to give approval to any private criminal prosecutions.The timing of the bill is a major concern for many including the Opposition which has charged that the governing party was moved to change the law because private criminal prosecutions were being served against Government Members of Parliament."Absolute rubbish ... people can always lay charges and says things. In these recent rafts of private criminal cases, the magistrate said these complaints were frivolous, vexatious and wre an abuse of the process of the court and she wouldn't even issues summons for some of them. For others, the magistrate issued summons and the DPP said these complaints didn't pass muster in terms of the evidence ... that itself is showing that the system is being abused," Dr. Gonsalves said.(Source: The BBC Caribbean Service).