Criminal Law Amendment to cut down Criminal Enterprises in TCI says House Member

Garfield Ekon

Staff Member

Turks and Caicos, October 18, 2024 – The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), new legislation, the Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2024, has received support from Willin Belliard, who is a Governor Appointed Member of the National Assembly.

Disclosing his position during the recent debate on the Bill, Billiard said its provisions which give immunity to persons who work with the authorities, to nab criminals, is “very important,” especially, the reduction in sentences.

“Now, in the past, as attorneys, in the criminal law practice, we has defendants who would want to cooperate, but there was no way that any guarantee could have been offered to them, that their” collaboration would lead to “substantial reduction in their sentences,” he said.

Under the new law, reduced sentences and immunity for assisting law enforcement, is guaranteed, and Mr. Belliard said, “we are delivering a very hard blow to criminal enterprises,” and their activity, he said, while calling on persons who know what is going on in organised crimes, to help the authorities.

“Now, this of course you will have to be providing, I would imagine, some extremely substantial evidence to the prosecution and the police,” to be eligible for exemption from criminal prosecution.

With crimes rising on the islands, especially links with local crime syndicates with international operatives, it is hope that the Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2024 will aid law enforcement agencies to now move effectively in using persons involved in criminal actions, against their bosses.

It will lesson considerations of reprisals, as persons wo cooperate with the authorities will be protected, and shielded from prosecution, after they provide information on their criminal associates.

The Bill which will move to its third reading, the bill does not grant blanket immunity,  it empowers the DPP to evaluate each case on its merits and determine whether offering immunity or a reduced sentence is in the public interest. This discretion is key to ensuring that the law is used judiciously.