National Day Of Prayer To Be Observed On 12th Sept

The Cabinet has declared Thursday 12^th of September 2024, to be a day of prayer for the nation. The Ecclesiastical Commission will announce a programme befitting such a day as the nation seeks God’s continual blessing.

Meanwhile the Cabinet examined three pieces of legislation dealing with gangs and youth that will come before the Parliament next week. They will include: i. the Anti-Gang Bill; ii. The Child Justice (Amendment) Bill; and, iii. the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill. The new and amended laws are intended to address the spate of criminal activity by youth, recently recorded. Considerable attention is paid to the likely impact of increased minimum sentences, although the Cabinet conceded that depriving magistrates and judges (who adjudicate criminal matters) of the discretion which they now possess, may not be constitutional. Nevertheless, though the minimal custodial sentence for gun crimes appears to be two years, the Cabinet agreed on a minimum of five years for gun crimes and left the discretion to magistrates and judges to determine the length of incarceration.