DPP welcomes Witness (Special Measures) Act 2013

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions says it welcomes the enactment of the Witness (Special Measures) Act 2013 by the Parliament of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

The new law received unanimous bipartisan support when it was passed in the House of Assembly on Monday, December 2, 2013.

A release from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions says it notes that this new law is very significant in many ways and designed to enhance the delivery of justice and the rule of law.

This Act provides for an application to be made to the Court for a witness anonymity order and provides for special measures to be given in appropriate cases. These special measures include the giving of evidence by live link, video recorded evidence, the taking of evidence from outside of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and prohibiting the defendant in certain cases from personally cross examining a particular witness.

“This is yet another significant step forward in the progressive development of the criminal law practice and procedure in this country,” a release from the DPP’s office said.

“As the theme of one of the Community Engagement Programmes of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions states ‘No Witness, No Justice.’ This Witness (Special Measures) Act is a significant step forward in ensuring that there will be witnesses who will testify and in so doing strengthen the rule of law and the delivery of justice.

Witnesses are the foundation upon which the criminal justice system is constructed by providing a safe, secure and protected environment to permit witnesses to testify, this new Act stands as a landmark in the delivery of justice and the rule of law.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions applauds all those who contributed to ensuring that this valuable law was enacted,” the release said.