Prime Minister Gaston Browne has warned the judiciary against undermining planned minimum sentences for rape and firearm offences, arguing that public safety must take priority over concerns about restricting judicial discretion.
Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show on Pointe FM, Browne said the government intends to take legislation to Parliament on September 18 to establish tougher minimum penalties for both categories of crime.
He accused some members of the judiciary of imposing sentences that are too lenient, particularly in cases involving illegal firearms and the sexual abuse of children.
“When we go to Parliament and we put in the minimum sentencing for rape and for gun crimes, we expect you to cooperate,” Browne said.
The prime minister rejected anticipated arguments that mandatory minimum sentences would improperly limit judges’ ability to determine penalties based on the circumstances of individual cases.
“Your discretion does not take precedence over the safety of this country,” he said.
Browne argued that short sentences have contributed to repeat offending by allowing convicted criminals to return quickly to communities. He said people convicted of serious gun crimes should serve the prescribed sentence and should not receive substantial reductions for good behaviour.
He also criticised sentences of two or three years in some sexual offence cases, saying existing laws already allow courts to impose much longer prison terms.
Browne’s comments come amid a broader public debate over the appropriate balance between judicial independence, proportional sentencing and the government’s responsibility to respond to violent crime.
The judiciary has not publicly responded to the prime minister’s latest remarks. Details of the proposed amendments, including the length of the planned minimum sentences, have not yet been presented to Parliament.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: VIDEO: PM Browne Warns Judiciary Against Undermining Planned Stricter Sentences.