分类： politics

The Court of Appeal in Trinidad and Tobago has consolidated several pending appeals challenging key provisions of the Bail (Amendment) Act 2024, which significantly altered the bail process for individuals charged with murder. The amendment removed the presumption in favor of bail, requiring accused persons to demonstrate exceptional circumstances to secure release. The Act was introduced to tighten bail restrictions for serious offenses, particularly murder. At a hearing on October 27, Justices Gillian Lucky, Mira Dean-Armorer, and Carla Brown-Antoine highlighted the divergent interpretations of the amended law by High Court judges. To ensure judicial consistency, the appellate panels agreed to hear all related appeals together in early 2026. Justice Lucky emphasized the importance of this issue, noting that attorneys for appellants will have access to submissions from other cases and may file additional arguments by November 30. She also urged lawyers to review the Hansard record, as one of the appeal questions was initially raised in Parliament by the then-opposition. The Chief Justice approved the consolidation of cases, and several legal bodies, including the Public Defenders’ Department, the Law Association, the Criminal Bar Association, and the Office of the Attorney General, will be invited to contribute as interested parties. The Bail (Amendment) Act 2024 was enacted following the Privy Council’s 2022 ruling in Akili Charles, which deemed the previous blanket denial of bail for murder accused unconstitutional. The amended law permits judges to grant bail if exceptional circumstances are proven, imposes a 120-day restriction on bail for serious offenses, and mandates a five-year review of its operation. Courts have since grappled with interpreting Section 5 of the Act, particularly whether it allows bail applications after 180 days in custody or one year without trial without requiring proof of exceptional circumstances. The state maintains that the amendment does not create an automatic right to bail but merely allows applications after a specified period, still requiring exceptional circumstances. Justice Lucky stressed the need for a consistent judicial approach, asking, ‘What is the correct test to be applied?’ Additionally, three appeals against convictions and sentences for various offenses were withdrawn during the hearing, with the judges affirming the convictions and ordering that sentences commence from the dates of conviction. A fourth appeal was also withdrawn.

Independent Senator and economist Dr. Marlene Attzs has raised significant concerns about Trinidad and Tobago’s 2025/2026 national budget, stating that it lacks critical details and may fail to achieve its people-centered objectives. Speaking during the Senate budget debate on October 27, Attzs acknowledged the budget’s ‘Trinidad and Tobago first’ approach as commendable but emphasized that fairness must be the guiding principle in evaluating its policies and priorities. She argued that a credible budget must go beyond good intentions and address pressing issues such as crime, foreign exchange shortages, and rising debt. Attzs highlighted the absence of a target debt-to-GDP ratio and questioned the government’s plan to borrow $18.96 billion, particularly the shift toward foreign borrowing, which could increase costs and exchange risks. She also criticized the closure of social programs like Cepep and URP, which provided employment and environmental benefits, and questioned whether the $475 million unemployment fund in the budget adequately replaces them. Attzs stressed the need for fiscal responsibility and sustainability, warning that borrowing to fund consumption could burden future generations. She called for a comprehensive national employment strategy that includes former Cepep and URP workers.

In a spirited defense of the current administration’s policies, Dr. Natalie Chaitan-Maharaj, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services, asserted that the government has significantly outperformed its PNM predecessor in addressing the needs of Trinidad and Tobago’s citizens. Speaking during the Senate budget debate on October 27, Chaitan-Maharaj highlighted a series of initiatives aimed at improving social welfare and economic stability. She criticized the former government for its failure to open the Couva Children’s Hospital for a decade and for voting against the Children’s Life Fund, sarcastically noting that their solution was to decriminalize cannabis for personal use. Chaitan-Maharaj also condemned the PNM for canceling the baby milk grant, a program introduced by the previous UNC government to aid single mothers in distress. She emphasized the current government’s commitment to the most vulnerable, citing the establishment of the National Therapeutic and Resource Centre (NTRC) to provide free therapy for disabled individuals on a larger scale than before. The Parliamentary Secretary accused the PNM of dismantling key educational programs, including the school laptop initiative and reducing allocations for school transport and scholarships. She revealed that the school textbook grant had plummeted from $133 million under the UNC to $33 million under the PNM, and the national school feeding program had seen a drastic reduction in daily meals provided. Chaitan-Maharaj also pointed out the decline in foreign exchange reserves from US$11.4 billion in 2015 to US$5.4 billion under the PNM. She defended the government’s budget projections based on oil and gas prices, dismissing claims of a hidden deficit as baseless fear-mongering. The bank levy and electricity surcharge were justified as measures targeting high earners to fund social programs without burdening the vulnerable. Chaitan-Maharaj announced the replacement of Cepep, URP, and reforestation programs with recruitment drives aimed at providing real job opportunities. She also highlighted the allocation of $5 million to establish a Women’s Health Fund to address period poverty, accompanied by educational programs on menstrual health. The Parliamentary Secretary concluded by outlining an ambitious pipeline of projects for fiscal 2026, all aligned with the National Child Policy, aimed at creating a safer and more empowered future for every child in Trinidad and Tobago.