Dr Peter Phillips - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Freelance Photographer

PRIME MINISTER Bruce Golding has said several pieces of legislation which are intended to strengthen law enforcement would be taken to Parliament early in the new year.

"In discussions with the security forces, they have expressed anxiety in getting some of these bills into status, and the attorney general is working hard on them," Golding said in Parliament on Wednesday.

The prime minister was responding to questions from Opposition member Dr Peter Phillips, who had questioned why an act passed in 2005 that allows for plea-bargaining was not yet in motion.

"It seems that there are a number of legislation relating to law enforcement, which are quite far down the track and, if brought to completion shortly, would add some help to the security forces and the general law-enforcement efforts," Phillips said to Golding.

In answering questions regarding the plea-bargaining legislation, Golding said prosecutors had not yet been able to rely on it.

"The draft regulations required to functionalise the act has just been completed. The approval of Parliament is required before it can be brought into effect," Golding said.

He added: "The regulations will be brought to Parliament very early in the new year and will be promulgated as soon as possible after approval by Parliament, at which time the act, which was passed in 2005, will be brought into force."

Golding told Parliament that the shortage of draftsmen had delayed the preparation and completion of the regulations for the new piece of legislation.

"Plea-bargaining is something that is brand new in our jurisdiction. Care was taken to ensure that a number of concerns that were raised by various legal offices within the Government and in the private Bar were addressed," the prime minister said.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com