The Nassau Guardian
AG: Increased reports of witness intimidation
Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson said yesterday there are increased reports of witness intimidation during trials of accused gang leaders and others, but stressed that laws are in place to protect the identities of witnesses.
In spite of the intimidation tactics, Maynard-Gibson encouraged people to come forward with information that could put criminals behind bars.
“We are finding a situation where more and more witnesses are being intimidated,” she said at a press conference at the Office of the Attorney General.
“We want to remind persons in communities that have information, that the police need information to detect crime and to arrest persons who are believed to be guilty of crime.
“We have a very robust regime that works, relating to witness protection and witness anonymity. We have laws in place today where if the judge agrees on an application from the very beginning, we can protect the identity of witnesses.
“These laws are in place to enable people to safely bring information forward. Even at trial we have video conferencing, we have ways to disguise the identity of a witness to enable persons to testify behind a screen. . .as well as witness protection.”
In The Bahamas’ 2012 Human Rights Report released by the U.S. State Department, witness intimidation was listed as one of the most serious human rights issues in the country.
Maynard-Gibson also spoke of the significance of the crime bills which were debated in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.
She said the legislation is a message that the Christie administration will not tolerate gang activity and is serious in its commitment to curb crime.
Minister of State for Legal Affairs Damian Gomez said some of these criminal gangs have an international reach, stretching as far as Colombia.
Gomez led debate on the crime bills on Wednesday. He said they will deliver a "death blow" to organized criminal activity and will enhance the effectiveness of the judicial system.
The bills include the Evidence Amendment Bill, the Penal Code Amendment Bill, the Firearms Amendment Bill, the Anti-terrorism Amendment Bill, the Justice Protection Amendment Bill and the Prevention of Bribery Bill.
The amendments to the Penal Code are specifically intended to target gang activity.
According to the bill, anyone who is convicted of being in an unlawful gang or participates in or contributes to the activities of an unlawful gang would be liable to a fine of $500,000, and imprisonment of 20 years, subject to a minimum term of 15 years.
The bill seeks to bring the code in line with The Bahamas’ international obligations to suppress organized crime under the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime.
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