President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday gave his assent to several pieces of legislation passed in the house recently, including a controversial law that will allow wiretapping to be used in the fight against crime.
The Interception of Tele-communication Bill 2008, the Criminal Law Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2008 and the Criminal Procedure (Plea Bargaining and Plea Agreement) Bill 2008, were all assented to by the President yesterday. The bills were all passed in October. The wiretapping law was passed without opposition support, while the others received the opposition support.
According to a statement from the Government Infor-mation Agency (GINA), the enactment of these new security laws is seen as vital to reducing the upsurge in crime experienced in Guyana over the recent years. It added that the laws will bring Guyana’s security legislation in line with what obtains in other jurisdictions and was called for by the security forces to aid the crime fight.
The wiretapping bill allows for the interception of communications, the acquisition and disclosure of data relating to communications and the acquisition of means by which protected communication may be accessed and placed in an intelligible form and for connected purposes. The law will effectively prohibit the interception of communication unless a warrant is issued by a judge, based on an application. Additionally, intercepted communication obtained on a warrant will also be made admissible in any criminal proceedings.
The plea bargaining law will formalise plea agreements in law and will allow for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to arrange plea agreements for the speedy disposal of cases. Meanwhile, the Criminal Law (Procedure) (Amend-ment) Bill 2008 will vest in Magistrates the power to commit accused persons to trial in the High Court if a prima facie case is made out, based on written instead of oral evidence. The paper committal law, which would also empower magistrates to discharge accused persons, has been formulated to make the committal procedure more efficient, saving the court time and costs by creating an alternative to protracted preliminary inquiries.
Finally, Roger Khan’s equipment would be put to “legal” use against those who dare to pick pockets, snatch purses, break and enter homes, beat on their spouses, murder innocent citizens, etc.
What a glorious move by he President. Such “brilliance” would eliminate the need for proper forensic training and equipment, adequate protection for ranks, adequate response capabilities, adequate patrols, adequate pay, etc. I bet his supporters are are now inebriated with pleasure.
Wisdom would suggest that such equipment would be much needed to combat highly organised crime, something we really don’t have in GT. (And I dare to debate that with anyone, as you should not subject an entire nation to the possible invasion of privacy, in order to eliminate one pathetic bunch or criminals)
And we certainly know that it would not be used against our “embattled businessmen”, unless taking sides in some “turf issues”……………… lol
Nevertheless all is not lost, maybe they will consider purchasing some polygraph equipment by the year 2525, (if man is still alive), but they would have to be very careful, as the equipment could certainly be used against them.
Good luck Guyana!
Listen to this story, When the AFRIKAN SLAVES were brought to the Caribbean by the European slave masters to work the plantations, they rebelled by getting away and swimming to other Islands, so the Europeans brought snakes from India to keep them in check, but as we know snakes bite EVERYONE as the Europeans soon found out, so they then brought in the MONGOOSE to kill the snakes, but there again there was a problem, you see the mongoose sleeps and night while the snake hunts. The moral here is such “BRILLIANCE” will be rewarded with “BULLS**T.
well said…
wonder if we can get a anti-corruption bill next?
Why the average Guyanese should be afraid of this bill… “Oliver Hinckson”..
Anything you say will be used against you…
Those of us in the US who call home better watch what we say, might get pick up at the airport.
Get ready for a new set of political prisoners…all under the “treason” bandwagon…
-M
can the equipment be used to detect white collar criminals?
what about video recordings,
no bail for those caught with unlicense guns, and longer jail time for those commit crimes with guns.
MODERATOR : care to comment or give up date.
What about the crooked Businessmen,,,what do you do with their “ILLEGAL” guns?.
Stop gap measures… comprehensive review of Justice system still needed.
yea… dont hold your breath budday…
I was watching the collapse of Argentina’s economy in 2001 on youtube the other day. A ex-politician said he didn’t understand why the public was annoyed with corruption when the same corrupt individuals came from the public sector….
So maybe that’s the case in GT.. all the people are corrupt not just the govt…
“all the people are corrupt not just the govt”
true – a significant portion of the people are corrupt, and the state could only be described as lawless!
So good a law for National Security, Anti-Terrorist plots, Kidnappings, also known criminals can be monitored thus be caught in the act.
The Bartica/Lusignan tragedy where innocent civillans were massacred could of been avoided and others would be avoided by the new Wire Tap Law..
Roger Kahn tried this and where is he now?, 10 South, MCC, New York, 150 Park Place, NY, NY, 10001, Write him for further advice, or do you want me to ask him what to do and get back to you?.
Like I said before…tap the bloddy wires….let them cry….if you got nothing to hide then tap tap tap….its about time Government act to protect its people from these murderous bastards…..
Finally the dye is cast now lets see the Guyana Goverement get to work and slove all those highly organized crimes atnd at the same time monitor thus who intend to break the law .
…. 1 step closer to the “gadfaddah “and his lieutenants,,, i hope the govt has in place ,, safety coordinates for the nation ,, cos stemming from the fact ,, that many ,, — they know who they r –who r up to their nose in every form of crime ,,,,,
will become agitated ,, and they too will put up a fight ,, by the very means they use for control of crime in the nation ,, in this the COP and his sleuths must stay 10 steps ahead of the crime boss ,, and his syndicates ,, and that would mean monitoring more than just tel converstions !,,
is destabilisation a crime ???????????,,,,, ah muss fine out ! ah know ah en gon get no ansah fum many haysuh ,, but is nat dem aloun gat ansah fuh evriting !….
Indeed this type of law can help. But look at the bigger picture, Guyana already have laws for almost everything and still struggle to solve crime. Well as for corruption no Minister or offical has every been brought to Justice for any single violation of laws, whether that be tax evasion, theifing electricity, trying to shoot your girl friend man etc. If people got friend in the Phone company checking on their partners conversation to see who they sending text, what the nature of conversations are etc etc, what do you think this type of law will do, hmm. But i guess we can claim it is for criminal catching………….
Shirley, are you saying that we have ministers & officials involved in corrupt activity???? Nooooooooo the PPP/C is shrouded by men/women of immaculate character & moral standing. Anythingelse you may have heard are all fabrications of the PNC/R & destabilisers. The current madministration is working steadily towards proving what living under a democrazy is all about.
Guyana needs a Privacy law to prevent information being disclosed to third party except in Criminal investigations.
Of course there is no use in there being a law unless it can and will be enofrces and punishment meted out to those who break the law
Now BIG Brother is in the house ….Bad Boy…Bad Boy …what you gonna do when he cum fah you?
When crimes takes place some of you bloggers are upset with the government for not proctecting the the people, now the goverment is wire tapping to weed out the crime that has gripped the nation, and you the same peoople who are saying nothing is being done to protect the people, you are against something that can bring an end to all of these killings and robberies that’s taking place.
I understand some people do not like this Government, but what about the people whose lives can be saved by implementing wire tapping and catching some of these bandits, or are you for the bandits and not the people.
eastbanner
some of dem gat 3 mouths here…..
Former Commissioner of Police Mr Winston Felex and
PNC MP, Mr Basil Williams did not robb or kill anyone and
there phone conversation were wire tapped.