Ministry signals decriminalising of attempted suicide, defamation
-as laws undergo review
With a review of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act expected to result in the decriminalisation of some offences, the Ministry of Legal Affairs has signaled that attempted suicide, criminal defamation and vagrancy could be struck out as offences under the law.
Under a US$87,440 contract, international legal consultant Peter Pursglove, S.C, has been retained to review the law and to recommend amendments.
After Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams and his team met with Pursglove yesterday, the ministry said in a statement that it is envisaged that the proposed amendments would include the decriminalisation of some current offences and the recommendation of alternatives to imprisonment in respect of certain summary offences, particularly those of a minor and non-violent nature.
In added that in the discussions, it was recognised that the criminal law of Guyana contains several categories of offences that in other jurisdictions have
now been decriminalised. “Many of these offences carry a sentence of imprisonment if found guilty. For example: offences concerning roguery and vagabondage, vagrancy, obeah and witchcraft, incorrigible roguery, attempting to commit suicide and criminal defamation are now decriminalised, in whole or in part, in many jurisdictions thus reducing rates of imprisonment. In such cases, decriminalising the behaviour and dealing with it outside the criminal law has not resulted in any negative impact on public safety,” it said, while noting that other offences may no longer warrant the imposition of a sentence of imprisonment and may now be dealt with by way of fine or other noncustodial sanctions.
According to the statement, Williams said a prison sentence is usually an inappropriate sanction, especially for non-violent, minor offences. Various alternatives have been implemented in other jurisdictions, such as bail, seizure of travel documents, periodic reporting to police or other authorities, electronic monitoring or curfews, and conditional and suspended sentences, it noted.