The Special Prosecutor Bill 2023 was presented to the House of Representatives today for second and third reading.
But during his appearance on Jules Vasquez UNCUT this Wednesday, Attorney-Dickie-Bradley called it plainly unconstitutional.
He says it attempts to strip the DPP of a power that the Constitution grants exclusively to her and he cautioned Belizeans about keeping the power to prosecute out of the hands of the government, here's more:
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"Draft law, we will see what the bar is going to say, a draft law has been read in the House of Representatives, and it says that they are going to appoint a special prosecutor."
Jules Vasquez:
"Yes, it's going back to the house this week."
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"Going back? As quick as that, no kind of discussion, no."
Jules:
"No, no, no, no, no."
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"Well there is a center in the constitution section 50 the constitution of Belize right now until it is changed gives the authority and the power solely and only to the director of public prosecutions."
Jules:
"Really?"
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"No executive-appointed committee can make any special prosecutor in this country."
Jules Vasquez:
"So I just want to confirm."
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"You know the slippery slope that that is going to take us down, you know the slippery slope that is going to take us down. You know when the government changes that is the same kind of law that they will use to appoint people to attack the outgoing government, they are playing with fire."
Jules Vasquez:
"It's called the special prosecutor bill 2023, you are saying that that…"
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"Unconstitutional."
Jules Vasquez:
"Flies in the face of the constitution and it usurps the prerogative the sole prerogative of the DPP."
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"That is so. Do you understand that in a democracy prosecution is kept away from the dictators and the tyrants and the power-hungry people, do you know what will happen? Listen. Do you know what will happen to come down the road when people in this country begin to feel like I am not getting a fair hearing in a court because of a foreign judge who is shouting out that they don't have a right to bail?"
During the debate today The Leader of the Opposition also raised the unconstitutionality of the appointment. Nonetheless the Bill was passed.
