The National Prosecution Service will be launched next week at a ceremony geared towards witness empowerment.

“The launch of the National Prosecution Service (NPS) as the new face of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions reflects the enhancements in programmes, policies, protocols and principles that have taken effect over the last decade and projects that will futuristically transform the organisation.

“There was a grand move in 2015 to house all Prosecutors centrally and to streamline our operations so that all prosecutors will be directly managed by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Hitherto, prosecutors at the Magistrate Court were generally assigned by the high command of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force,” a release from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said.

“The assignment of the first summary court prosecutors as part of the National Prosecution Service was forged through the alliance of the then Commissioner of Police, Mr Reynold Hadaway (now retired) and then Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Colin Williams, now Justice of the High Court of Belize. A memorandum of understanding now exists between the current Commissioner of Police, Mr Colin John and the current Director of Public Prosecutions (Ag.) Miss Sejilla Mc Dowall to continue the assignment and integration of police officers as support prosecutorial staff of the National Prosecution Service. Apart from support prosecutorial staff, other police officers have joined the team at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (National Prosecution Service) on attachment to perform various duties.”

The launch of the NPS is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 24 from 9 am to 12 noon at the House of Assembly Hall under the theme “S.P.E.A.K. U.P. – It can be YOU!”.

Geared towards witness empowerment, the theme entails the acronym “S.P.E.A.K. U.P.” which is meant to encourage witnesses to Share Personal Encounters and Accurate Knowledge – Unleash Power”.

The launch of the NPS will also serve as a platform to showcase publications which emerged from the making of the NPS. It will feature several specially invited guest speakers, local, regional and international. A short film dubbed “Speak UP” will also debut at this event and there will also be other reveals including the launch of a new publication – the Witness Code. It promises to be a very engaging ceremony as the work of this very fundamental national institution is spotlighted.