More bills introduced in today’s house meeting

While the real purpose of today’s house meeting was the fate Telemedia, three other bills were introduced for a first reading. One was for an Act to control the sale of beverages in containers that would allow for a system of deposit and refund upon the return of the containers. That bill was introduced by Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega. The others, which were introduced by Attorney General Wilfred Elrington, are to amend the Evidence Act. That amendment would allow witness statements to be allowed in a court of law as evidence in instances where those witnesses fear for life or safety. If passed, then the accompanying bill that would need to be amended is the Indictable Procedure Act which allows for the statements to be admitted into evidence.

Wilfred Elrington, Attorney General
“Over the months and years we’ve heard numerous cases in which the Director of Public Prosecutions has had to nolle pros cases, in other words discontinue the cases, because of fear on the part of witnesses to testify. This proposal is to allow for statements given by witnesses because witnesses invariably give statements before the case and these statements are in most cases, sworn statements. This bill is intended to allow for the admission of those statements into evidence.”

Gaspar Vega, Deputy Prime Minister
“Government has the responsibility to institute measures to ensure that those containers are dealt with in such a way as to ensure that they do not endanger the environment. This bill is one of steps government has devised to that end. The bill is designed to ensure that importers be responsible for seeing to the proper disposal of the offending container.”