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Magistrate’s Code of Procedure (Amendment) Bill2025 was passed in Parliament moments ago.
It is the first bill that has been passed during the Tuesday morning session of the Lower House.
This bill gives magistrates the provision to conduct their judicial requirements virtually during remand hearings.
During the covid pandemic, several remand proceedings were conducted virtually and according to Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin is a major step in the right direction as it is a practice undertaken across the region so as not to delay the judicial process or infringe the rights of the accused.
The law states that remand proceedings must take place in 8 days.
St. John’s Rural West MP Richard Lewis gave his support for the bill mentioning that the “amendment is necessary one given the climate of the world today”.
He added that the pandemic proved that several proceedings can be conducted virtually, and the laws must be amended to reflect the new reality.
He further stated that more laws should follow on this same path.
Bowen while also supporting the bill termed it as another layer in strengthening security of the prisoners who have sometimes in the past escaped while being transported to their remand hearings.
I don’t agree with this.
So it means that instead of bringing you before the court every seven days to renew your holding warrant or give you an opportunity to get bail if you are eligible they keep you locked up sometimes for a very long time. They might even forget you are up there..It has happened in the past
Most of these bills are passed and never implemented in real life
Very good. This is sure to speed up criminal proceedings. Covid has indeed taught us a lot that we dont need physical presence to be productive