The National Assembly last evening passed the Coroners Amendment Bill 2015 after a heated and lengthy debate between the Government and Opposition. The Bill which was examined clause by clause in Committee during last evening’s sitting was passed as amended. The Bill was presented by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams.
According to the amended Bill, at present the magistrate of the magisterial district in which an unnatural death occurs is the coroner. If that magistrate cannot conveniently or speedily be found or is unable to act, the nearest justice of the peace who is able to act shall be the coroner. A coroner is defined as a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes.
The amendments effected by the Bill to the Act do not affect the law as it stands except that they widen the meaning of a coroner. According to the explanatory memorandum, the amendment provides for the Judicial Service Commission to appoint fit and proper persons to be coroners for the country.
A coroner shall also have the powers, privileges, rights and jurisdiction of a magistrate and justice of the peace as are necessary for the performance of his duties.
In his presentation, prior to the Bill being deliberated on, Attorney General Basil Williams stated the government is moving to have this bill passed since there are a number of families who need closure on the death of their loved ones.
“Families are still grieving, and it is against this background that the motion came to the House, to widen the category of persons to perform the functions of coroner,” the Attorney General advised. It is the intention that these persons will become fulltime coroners since, the magistrates are already faced with several challenges, one of which remains clearing of the backlog of various cases within the court system.
The opposition argued against appointing persons who are not magistrates to be coroners within the respective magisterial district and asked that the Bill to be further deliberated at a Special Select Committee.
The Coroners Amendment Bill was revised to allow for at least four coroners in Demerara, three in Berbice and two in Essequibo. These persons will be full time coroners. Every person appointed as a coroner under the act shall take and subscribe to the oath of office taken by a magistrate with whatever modifications are necessary.
The Bill was passed as amended.
Who would want to curtail the passge of such a needed amendment? Obviously the PPP/C
DK why don’t you request that the Diary from FINE MAN be made public,,you would stop exposing how brain dead you are after that,the tape is the only thing stuck in your empty head,what about all the families whose children were taken away by your lawless enforcement officers from the PHANTON squad,what you are crying about was roger khan snitches who were taking over the village were taken out, gotten rid off, tell us who killed the agricultural minister,,sing that tune,,,judgment day is not going to be nice for all those who killed that gentleman and his family,,the master mind went into Jail with( jockey shorts) he will be deported in (VICTORIA SECRETS)
Quite agree DK, but we shouldn’t just stop there. We need to include those persons that died on the Sun Chapman, those persons killed by the phantom gang and all those other persons who mysteriously disappeared a few years ago.
Coroners Amendment Bill passed amidst lengthy debate in National Assembly
In his presentation, prior to the Bill being deliberated on, Attorney General Basil Williams stated the government is moving to have this bill passed since there are a number of families who need closure on the death of their loved ones.
The taped AG is correct that a number of families need closure on deaths of their loved ones like those that lost their lives when the PNC GDF went and took away their votes in ballot boxes..Like that of Rodney and the GDF explosive that assassinated him. All numerous killings by kick down the door bandits. All numerous killings during the Fine man killing spree gang.
Like those whom are caught on tape recording diverting police attention from murders. Like those that removed surveillance tape from the killing at Buxton gas station. Like those that hooked up with their jury buddies to make like magic where well known murderers of babies were slaughtered in the beds in their sleep.