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And back now to the House, the amendment to the Criminal Code act saw its second reading. This bill expands the definition of aggravated assault and increase the penalty for threat of death. It's basically to further protect certain members of society, including public officers, prosecutors, and members of the media.
But today, the area rep for the Collet division had some concerns about the bill.
Patrick Faber, Area Rep., Collet
"You are in a heated situation at the Lands Department or you're in a heated situation in the Immigration Department and we know how frustrating these processes can be and you utter a word and then all of a sudden, according to the bill being proposed, you don't even have to utter directly to the public servant, and the public servant is only one of the persons who you would be able to run afoul of in this situation. From what I've read, it says, even if it is said and it is in the earshot of the person, they can make a complaint against you and you will be arrested and you will go to court and if they find you guilty, they will lock you up. There is no option, from what I gather, and if there is I'm hoping my honorable friend from Freetown will help us along but there is no option, you will go to jail for three years or up to three years, there is no fine or other penalties. The magistrate will have no choice but to put you in jail."
"These are the persons who this bill now purports to put in this category that the aggravated assault could be charged for. We're talking about immigration officers, police officers, Belize Defense Force members, we're talking members of the media, we're talking about politicians, elected officials, and so madam speaker I want to caution that this could end up in a very nasty situation if we're not careful."
And the Minister of Home Affairs stood up to clarify the penalties and explain why the bill is necessary.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I have to wonder, member, which one of us has been in this House longer because this is how every piece of legislation looks like when it comes to the penalty, this is how all our laws are written and so if you would know the court system these laws and these penalties are not mandatorily endorsed, this is the ceiling and while it says five years, it does not mean that the magistrate will, in her discretion, in this case I think it is there years, in the other it is five, but in both cases because i;'m sure it can be raised on the next as well, in both cases that is the ceiling that does not mean that the magistrate in her or his discretion will automatically deliver that kind of penalty to a defendant or an accused if they are charged under this legislation. They can even be fined so what this is, is the increase of the penalty."
"Like both of you rightly mentioned, they are more prone, they are more subjected at the Lands Department to these sort of attacks by members of the public and we've seen cases where media personalities caught on camera individuals coming out of the courtroom are assaulting members of the media. And in addition to that in this very House on both sides currently there are instances of threats made against members of the honorable House and so that is the reason for the amendment in the legislation that we are proposing"
