Attorney General Levi Peter has announced that new legislation, or amendments to existing ones, will soon find their way to the country’s statute books.
While addressing the opening of the new Law Year on Thursday, Peter identified four namely, the Money Laundering Act, Proceeds of Crime Act, Bail Act and the Legal Profession Act.
“There are a number of pieces of legislation which some of which have been, to use the phrase ‘been knocking around for a long time, far too long’, and we have come to a number of these special sittings, and other fora, and have spoken about these pieces of legislation and a number of them, for different reasons, have not found their way onto the statute books and some of them are already there and but require amendments,” he said.
He said an amendment is to be done to the already existing Money Laundering Act and three new ones, the Proceeds of Crime Act, the Bail Act and the Legal Profession will be addressed “by this side of Christmas.”
He encouraged all those involved in the process to ensure that those pieces of legislation are taken forward.
Peter noted that a substantial amount of work has been done on the Legal Profession Act both by the Dominica Bar Association and by the Chambers of Attorney General and again made the call to the Bar Association and others to conclude discussions in that area.
“But I can say that the likelihood is that bill will proceed very shortly to parliament for seeking to be debated and passed,” he noted, adding that the Bail Act is also expected to get similar treatment.
Meanwhile, President of the Dominica Bar Association, Mary Auriel Roberts, who also addressed the ceremony, said the association has comprehensively reviewed the Legal Profession Act in order to have it finalized.
“Through our Legislative Drafting Committee, the Dominica Bar Association has comprehensively reviewed the Legal Profession Act and we will continue to work with the Attorney General’s chambers to finalize the passage of the Act and to review the Bail Bill and other legislation that are presented to us,” she said.
She pointed out that at a recent OECS Bar Association meeting the Legal Profession Act in the sub region was reviewed and it was emphasized that harmonized legislation was needed and Dominica can learn from other jurisdiction where the Act has been passed.
Stay strong the people of Dominica.
In general we need to take a new look at our hole justice system ,there must be better checks n balance the same people drafting our laws are the same ones who comes to the house and pass them,the i’s have it.some of our laws been there since colonization days,time changes so do men,we still cutting man hair ,we cant wear couboflage ,there are lots of illegial laws in our system.
mr AG when are we going to start talking about legislation to free up the holy herb?we need to know where u guys in red stand
Smh. Do as i say, but not as i Do! Where there`s no vision the people will surly perish, we just wont listen regardless of the obvious signs, and signals we are only giving lip service, I really as my Self who do they think they fooling? Not Me. Let God be the judge. Thats above my pay grade. But! im convinced God will delivery us.
what about lawa to jail corrupt politicians, mr peters
Whatever you state, this has to be proven. Hearsay is not one of it. Be careful of stones that you throw and defaming the character of others and judging them. There is a God listening to you and taking note.
I find in Dominica as I read on this Website, some of you do not fear judging others as your PM. You are too free with your debasing comments. You could not do that on Canadian Websites. Your comments will be prohibited. Why? Because the very Media, if allowed these postings and consistently so could get in trouble. They could be sued for libel and allowing such comments posted consistently. I do think this is something which has to be changed in D/ca.
The VIII – Eighth Commandment of God: Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor.
It is a mortal/grievous sin against God. Consider the punishment of God.
Pope Francis recently stated: “Gossip and judgmental are incompatible with Christian life.”
Take good note of that.
AH LICK IT TWICE
DLP Government has already pass these laws, that’s what the IPO is all about, they are not like the UWP that refused to pass it because if they had pass that law during their reign most of the heirachy’s in that Cabinet would have been or would have completed some real JAIL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!
So yes THERE IS LAWS TO JAIL CORRUPT POLITICIANS SINCE 2003 so tell the aspiring politicians to becareful because the 1990’s are over!!!!!
Mr. AG when will we see new legislation or amendments to the existing ones Re: Sexual offences!!!!! For some strange reason tougher penalties are not seeing their way to the statute books.
You should also directly inform him about that.
Proceeds of Crime Act
he dem drug lords where it hurts, start seizing property meeeeeeeh say
If they are caught. These people are smart. They will do their utmost not to get caught. Their helpers who get caught will not squeal on them.
Are those like hot potato, too hot too handle? Talking about Freedom of Information Act, Campaign Financing legislation, as well as other matters re. Electoral Reforms e.g. (not more than two ( 2) terms for any leader of our country?.
Presently, Gov’t cannot be forced to disclose information to anyone on matters of National import. There exist no legislation on that specific issue. If Gov’t wants to, certain things are disclosed, or due to constant advocacy and pressure from the public, authorities sometimes bow. Information hard to access People in the dark.
Many examples could be sited. No info re. My Dominica Trade House scandal. Passport sales (how many, to whom, how much $$$$$ amassed). Kick-backs, Many corrupt practices.
Several organisations, election observers, the public, have been worried about the huge amount of money spent for our elections. Govt have to pay back the heavy financiers. Why no Act. to control campaign financing by ML/Gros boug?
Maybe it should be open or published for the people to the read each bill before it is passed. The question is is it being passed as a part of the agenda of the govt. or is it being passed on behalf of the people with their consent? Beware of your rights being eroded away via legislation.
Would it not be on the Government Website for all to read?
Could this story be any more vague?
Dear Mr Attorney general
can you make it illegal for a prime minister to be talking about man wining on woman on national radio?
Mr Peters, what about sugar daddy law, what about teacher, profession law , where teachers/professor should not be in relation/sexuall involve with students, giving them money and high grades, instead of their failed grades,
All these you should formerly address to him. Writing about it here is insufficient.
And that the Legal Profession Act makes provision for penalties under the law when lawyers falsify documents in an attempt to hijack citizens land. Eager await the revisions/amendments of the Proceeds of Crime Act.
OLD!!!
There’s a certain lawyer with dead people property all over the country, there should be a time limit for lawyers to work on client’s land bocuments, I know of a lawyers who keep a lady documents for years, after her husband passed, each time the senior went to that lawyers office she kept asking the senior money, had it not been for the senior’s grandson coming all the way from London, the lawyer would have taken the lady’s land, keeping seniors and elderly people’s land document for over sixteen months is uncalled for even worth not corresponding with them, for which the clients have to go to their office and charging them movies each time, this is highway robbery, for such in other countries these lawyer would not be practicing anymore, Licensing boby
would revoke the license, in everthing there’s good and bad, there are some good lawyers in Dominica, those invole in the money laundering and selling Dominica’s passport, becoming millionaires in another country they…
It would be nice to know what changes they have in mind.
good !! does it means that we will stop to grant bail to murderer or rapist ?? I hope so !!