Bahamas gov"t mulls removal of bail in gun crimes

Latest News

Tuesday, December 31, 2013 | 12:49 PM

NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) – The Bahamas government says it is considering legislation that would impose additional restrictions on the ability of judges to grant bail in offences involving crimes of violence and the use of firearms. Prime Minister Perry Christie said Cabinet had discussed the crime situation in the country, particularly in light of the weekend drive-by killings of four people in the Fox Hill area.Christie said the police would escalation “saturation patrols” using both marked and unmarked vehicles and that they would also be “even more robustly equipped with cars and other crime-fighting tools as an integral part of the escalated saturation patrols, especially areas that are known as hot spots in New Providence”.He said there would be a re-instatement of the 12-hour policing shift, possibly on new terms and that a further announcement on this subject would be made once the necessary consultations within law enforcement have been completed.But Christie said that his administration is “deeply concerned about the number of persons who are arrested and charged with serious crimes while out on bail. “This is a major problem in the war against crime. The government is fully prepared to legislatively intervene to impose addition al restrictions on the ability of judges to grant bail in offences involving crimes of violence and the use of firearms. “He said cabinet had also directed the Ministry of Works to work “around the clock” to complete refurbishment of additional criminal courts so that as many as 10 criminal courts would be able to hear criminal cases simultaneously.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don’t use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed:mailto:advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

comments powered by

View the original article here

Bahamas gov"t mulls removal of bail in gun crimes

Brazil outcry at pet monkey removal

5 August 2013 Last updated at 19:33 ET Capuchin monkeys are native to South America and protected by Brazilian law Thousands of people in Brazil have signed online petitions demanding the return of a pet monkey taken away by environmental police after living for nearly 40 years with a family.

The capuchin monkey, known as Chico, was taken to a nature reserve.

Authorities in the city of Sao Carlos said it was illegal to keep wild native animals at home in Brazil.

However, Chico’s 71-year-old former owner, Elizete Farias Carmona, said she had treated him “like a son”.

“They have taken a son away from his mother. But I believe God will allow me to see my Chico again,” Mrs Carmona told the newspaper, O Globo.

Chico had his own bed and was fed with milk, fruits and his favourite Brazilian dishes, she said.

Mrs Carmona said she had been given the animal in 1976 by a family friend who worked as a lorry driver.

“I had no idea I was not allowed to keep it,” she said.

‘No native animals’

The authorities said they had responded to an anonymous call about Chico.

“We received advice that an animal was being kept captive in that house. We went for an inspection in March and found the animal there,” explained Lt Leandro Jose Oliveira, from Sao Paulo state environmental police.

“The animal had been illegally captured. Mrs Carmona was given a provisional licence to keep the monkey until we found a suitable place for it, which has happened now,” he said.

The monkey was taken to a nature reserve in the city of Assis, some 300km (190 miles) away.

One of Mrs Carmona’s sons, Ernani Furlan, told the BBC the family feared for Chico’s health in its new home.

“He drank milk first thing in the morning and before going to bed. He loved carrots and ate them throughout the day. Will he be getting the same treatment over there?” he asked.

“We believe he is not eating over there.”

Mr Furlan said the animal was kept in chains in the house to avoid him climbing up lamp posts and being electrocuted.

“He would not escape, but we feared something would happen to him. We are all missing him so much. He came to us as a baby and my mother was like a mother to him.”

Two petitions urging the return of the animal to the Carmona family have been signed by more than 4,000 people, according to O Globo’s G1 website.

Campaigners say Brazilian law is flawed, as it allows wild animals from other parts of the world, such as tigers, lions and many types of birds, to be kept at home.

“We are just following the legislation. Exotic animals are allowed if they are not treated with cruelty. Wild native animals, from Brazilian territory, cannot be kept as pets,” said Lt Oliveira.

View the original article here

Brazil outcry at pet monkey removal