Letters & Opinion, Matters On My Mind

The Criminal Code

Image of a gavel

HAVE you ever scrutinized this country’s Criminal Code? It is an amazing piece of work. Some people may disagree with some of the laws and the punishment attached, but, in its entirety, this document is just something else.

Are you aware that a person charged with any offence — and I mean any offence — is eligible for bail. Yes, siree! Just imagine someone — a full grown male for instance, forcefully buggering infants, pre-teens damaging those young ones physically, mentally, psychologically, emotionally, internally and the list goes on — being allowed to walk the streets because of a law that states this criminal can post bail.

There was a time — and I stand subject to being corrected — when matters of a severe sexual nature had no provisions for bail. Today, it seems that this is not the case.

Section 592 of the Criminal Code that speaks to the Right to Bail notes that “except as otherwise provided in this part or any other enactment, a defendant shall be entitled to bail. Part two of this section further notes that “where bail is granted, the conditions of bail shall be reasonable.”

To be fair, the Criminal Code has a Section (593) that deals with circumstances in which bail may be denied and gives a list of reasons why.

My point is: whereas before it was an automatic denial of bail for offences of a severe sexual nature, it is not so today.

Taking in consideration today’s society, where those with the name and the wherewithal could easily circumnavigate section 593 of the Criminal Code (and this has been done already so I am not inventing the wheel here) the mere fact that such cases can see a defendant out on bail is frightening.

Micah George is an established name in the journalism landscape in St. Lucia. He started his journalism tutelage under the critical eye of the Star Newspaper Publisher and well known journalist, Rick Wayne, as a freelancer. A few months later he moved to the Voice Newspaper under the guidance of the paper’s recognized editor, Guy Ellis in 1988.

Since then he has remained with the Voice Newspaper, progressing from a cub reporter covering court cases and the police to a senior journalist with a focus on parliamentary issues, government and politics. Read full bio...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Send this to a friend