Sunday April 01, 2018
Human rights group seek support for INDECOM
KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The independent Jamaican Council For Human Rights (IJCHR) has called on the government to take all necessary steps to give clear and express authority to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) and its officers to institute criminal proceedings and effect arrests in respect of matters investigated by them. In a statement, the IJCHR said that it was the original advocate for the establishment of an independent agency for the investigation and prevention of criminal acts by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and particularly the use of unjustified or excessive force against citizens. “Accordingly, IJCHR strongly supports the recommendation to remove all doubts about the legal competence of INDECOM Officers to arrest and initiate criminal prosecutions,” the statement said. The IJCHR’s position follows the March 16 ruling by the Court of Appeal indicating that INDECOM does not have the power, under the INDECOM Act, to arrest,
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charge or prosecute any member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) or any other person. INDECOM has since expressed that it will be going to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London to address the matter. The INDECOM is a Commission of Parliament, governed by the INDECOM Act. The Act was passed on April 15, 2010, and the Commission began operation on August 16, 2010. The INDECOM Act repealed the Police Public Complaints Act that established the Police Complaints Authority (PPCA), which was a civilian body established to probe allegations against members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). In its statement, the IJCHR said that “there can be no doubt that in particular situations private persons have had the right to institute criminal proceedings merely by signing information and in particular circumstances even to effect an arrest. “It is also clear that particular authorities or agencies have been given such powers. For instance, for the purpose of carrying out the pro-
visions of the customs laws all persons employed in the Department of Customs and Excise, the Revenue Protection Division of the Ministry of Finance have such powers.”The human rights group said that the Minister of Health or Local Authority may authorise public health officers to institute proceedings against persons for offences against the Public Health Act. It said also a forest officer may, in certain circumstances, arrest any person found committing or reasonably suspected to have committed an offence under this Act.“In view of the importance of the functions of INDECOM and the historic reluctance of members of the JCF to investigate and prosecute their colleagues, there is no rational reason why INDECOM should be left in a state of partial incapacity. “IJCHR therefore urges the Government and Parliament to take all necessary steps to give clear and express authority to INDECOM and its officers to institute criminal proceedings and effect arrests in respect of matters investigated by them,” it added.
Central Bank of T&T reports lacklustre performance in non-energy sector PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) says activity in the non-energy sector “remained lacklustre” during the second half of last year which production indicators suggested an improvement in economic activity in the energy sector during the same period. In its “Monetary Policy Announcement” for March, the CBTT said that within the energy sector, natural gas production rose year-on-year by 10 per cent in the second half of 2017, mainly owing to new gas output from the BpTT Juniper field, while petroleum output improved by just 0.9 per cent. “The increase in natural gas output helped to alleviate the gas shortages in the downstream sector, facilitating higher output of metha-
nol and liquefied natural gas,” the CBTT added. The bank said that private sector credit growth rose in January 2018 by 6.2 per cent compared with 3.7 per cent in November 2017 based partly on a recorded pickup in business lending. But it said “it is not clear whether this momentum will be sustained. “Liquidity levels drifted upward during the first two months of 2018 facilitating government borrowing from the financial system in the first quarter. Commercial banks’ daily excess reserves at the Central Bank averaged TT$3,725 million (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) in February before dipping just below three billion in March.” The CBTT said that rising interest rates in the US combined with relatively stable rates domestically have
pulled the TT-US yield differential on three-month treasuries further below parity, adding the differential stood at negative 51 basis points in late March. The CBTT said it remains concerned about the potential impact of the US Fed’s anticipated actions in coming months on TT-US interest rate differentials and consequently on Trinidad and Tobago’s external balance. It said as a result of that concern as well as the fact that domestic inflation was low and there appears to be little price pressures in the short term, as well as the fact “the nascent recovery in late 2017 in the energy sector had not yet been reflected in a boost to non-energy activities,” it has agreed hold the repo rate – the rate at which it lends money to commercial banks here – at 4.75 per cent.