The Gun Law, it's been at the forefront of the public discourse for weeks now, and yesterday in the House of Representatives, you actually heard both sides of the House agree on making changes to the draconian laws. Police Minister John Saldivar said he was in discussions with the Director Of Public Prosecutions and the Solicitor General and had commenced a review of the laws to make them fair and less Draconian. But, today the PUP held a press conference to say no discussion with the relevant authorities needed; they have the changes in hand. The party has produced a draft for the Crime Control and Criminal Justice act, and for the firearms Amendment Act. And in a curious twist says they want to lead from the opposition:
Kareem Musa
"The PUP has a duty and an obligation to step in where the government seems unable to govern and to make the necessary changes. We are in effect leading from the Opposition."
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition
"When the citizens of our country are of a growing view that this particular law, these particular laws are being applied inequitably or leading to injustice we certainly have an obligation to look at those laws."
Kareem Musa
"We proposed that the crime control and criminal justice act be amended to state that the charges under which an accused in not granted bail as of right under the firearms act be restricted to 1.) Robbery with a firearm, 2.) Aggravated assault with a firearm and, 3.) Possession on unlicensed firearm and ammunition. In relation to those 3 offences that there also be a proviso that would once again vest in the magistrate the authority to grant bail for special extenuating circumstances to be recorded in writing."
"We must trust that our magistrates, like our Supreme Court judges have the wisdom and the knowledge to know deserve to be granted bail and who does not. Repeat offenders who have previous or prior convictions, for instance, ought not to be granted bail. But a pregnant woman or a high school student with no previous convictions ought not to be treated like a common criminal the way they are today."
Anthony Sylvestre
"Section 32B amended firstly to take away this mandatory minimum sentence and restore the discretion to the magistrate."
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition
"We have proposed specific amendments to these particular laws; the firearms act and the crime control criminal justice act. We are going to make that available to the government of Belize. We want to work with the government on this issue, but we certainly recognized that there is an urgent need. We don't want this thing to be dragged on. We don't want there to be a long series on discussions and meetings. We think there is need for urgent action on this matter."
Kareem Musa
"We are making proposals to change the laws now! Not two years from now so more people could get locked up, now!"
The drafts will be submitted to the relevant government authorities for review.
