(Trinidad Express) After almost seven hours in committee stage, the DNA Bill (Deoxyribonucleic Acid Bill, 2011) was passed yesterday morning unanimously.
Debate on the Bill started at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, and by 6.30 p.m., the Senate moved to committee stage where there were further heated arguments on certain clauses.
The Bill was eventually passed after 1 a.m., with full support of the Opposition and Independent benches.
Speaking with the Express yesterday at Parliament, Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain, Justice Minister Herbert Volney, who piloted the Bill, said this was a victory for the people of this country.
He said there were a number of comprisals, but the essence and aim of the Bill was kept.
One bone of contention was the number of years by which a person’s DNA would be kept in the DNA database—the proposed time was ten years.
Volney told the Express it was agreed that in relation to investigations of blood crimes, the DNA will be kept indefinitely, as well as crimes that fall under the Anti-Gang laws. All other DNA that enters the system will be kept for five years.
