(Trinidad Express) Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has warned of an elitist group of lawyers who could take advantage of the plea-bargaining system.
She raised concerns on the issue during the committee stage of The Criminal Procedure (Plea Discussion and Plea Agreement) Bill, 2017 at the Parliament sitting on Friday at the Port of Spain Waterfront Centre.
Persad-Bissessar suggested that police officers be retained to carry out plea discussion, but they be of a higher rank. The legislation proposes that police officers be removed and lawyers — appointed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) office — carry out the plea bargaining.
Persad-Bissessar questioned who these lawyers will be and what criteria will be used to select them. She noted that the majority of the prosecutors in the summary courts are police officers and the ante should be increased so that the officers be of the rank of first division.