The House of Assembly is typically where legislators move for first readings of bills. However, bills can originate in the Senate if they are technical in nature and if permission has been granted.
During the abbreviated sitting of the Senate, Dr. Nottage explained that the proposed piece of legislation seeks to provide for the monitoring and control of precursor chemicals and other chemical substances used or capable of being used in any type of illicit transaction involving narcotic drugs.
According to the bill, “other chemical substances” include such things as solvents, reagents or catalysts that, though not precursors, can be used in the production manufacture or preparation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or other substances having similar effects.
The bill is essentially aimed at closing the loopholes, which enable persons to import substances that can endanger someoneﾒs health when combined with other items, Dr. Nottage said.
However, senators are not expected to debate the bill when they next meet later this week. Instead, they will turn their attention to two other pieces of legislation recently passed in the House of Assembly – the Juries Amendment Bill and another bill to amend a Miscellany of Acts relatin g to the Criminal law.
The latter would allow certain firearms offenses to be tried under indictment as well as summarily and strengthen the penalties for the offenses under summary trial.
If passed, the offenses to which the provisions would apply relate to acquiring a firearm without a license, transferring a firearm to someone who is being monitored by the police or possessing a firearm or ammunition without certificate.
Lawmakers are also seeking to increase the penalty prescribed for the offences under summary trial in section 32 from three months or a fine of $150 to imprisonment for a term of five years, a $5,000 fine and the forfeiture of the gun or ammunition in question.
Once passed, the amendment would also provide for either the prosecution or the accused to appeal to the Court of Appeal in the stance where bail has been granted or refused in the Supreme Court.
Additionally, the bill provides for the appeal to be filed when the court has revoked the Crownﾒs application to have the individualﾒs bail revoked.
At the next sitting, senators are also expected to discuss a resolution approving the sale of 8,000 square feet of land in Eleuthera, originally part of the Harrisville Company to Dexter Cambridge for $12,000.
Senators will next meet on Thursday, at 10:30am. It is expected to be one of their final sittings before taking the traditional summer recess.
By: Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
