Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
THE LONG-awaited Proceeds of Crime Act, which will allow for the prosecution of persons with unexplained sources of wealth and possible confiscation of their assets, will not be debated before next year.
Parliament's Joint Select Committee which is considering the Bill, met for the first time on Wednesday. Chairman of the Committee, National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, underscored the urgency of the passage of the legislation.
"It is absolutely essential if we are to be able to confront the spectra of serious organised crime, which is driven most of all by the search for illicit profit," he said.
"Any effective confrontation of this crime is going to require that we take the profits out of criminal activities," he added.
Opposition member, Delroy Chuck said while the Bill was very significant, it has to be carefully considered.
"We must recognise that this Bill has that significance (to take the profit out of criminal activity), (but) at the same time we have to ensure that innocent parties are not unnecessarily harassed," he pointed out.
He cautioned that care should also be taken that the Bill does not open areas which could give the state unnecessary powers to look into every financial transaction that may occur involving big money.
"Even though I will be the first to appreciate that a lot of big money floating around may have some criminal taint," he added.
The Committee, which was poorly attended, also invited members of the public to make submissions to the Committee by January 6.
At the same time, Dr. Phillips said experts from the United Kingdom who administered that country's Proceeds of Crime Act, have indicated their willingness to make submissions to the Committee.
The Proceeds of Crime Act is aimed at addressing the deficiencies in the current Drug Offences (Forfeiture of Proceeds) Act, which does not target organised criminal networks or the power to authorise the confiscation of assets or benefits that are derived from the general criminal lifestyle.
