A Presentation to Trinidad and Tobago
Transparency Institute
Anti-Corruption Conference
Hilton Hotel, March 20th 2015
A few weeks ago, Justice Gillian Lucky sentenced two men to jail terms, one for 10 months for drug trafficking and the other for 5 months for shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm and robbery. The thing was that the two men who eventually pleaded guilty had already spent 7 years and 8 months and 10 years and 2 months, respectively, in the remand yard awaiting trial! This is by no means an unusual story. The remand yard which accommodates prisoners awaiting trial is overflowing. The prisons are overflowing.
A murder trial by jury can last 6 months to a year, occupying the time of one judge and several lawyers. There is a large backlog of persons awaiting trial for murder. Criminal Proceedings Rules still being worked on. The abolition of the preliminary enquiry had to reset after the Section 34 scandal.
This country is yet to record a conviction for serious white collar crime. The Piarco accused are yet to see the high court for