FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj yesterday warned that the legal guidelines of the Bail (Amendment) Bill 2005 may be flawed and could be used “to assist the criminals” in escaping justice instead of helping the authorities to win the war on crime. Maharaj advised the Government not to debate the bill in the Senate tomorrow and to consult with the Judiciary to ensure that its legal parameters are in order before doing so. Stressing that the Opposition did not err in supporting the legislation’s passage, Maharaj said Government must heed the advice offered by Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday that the courts could deem the bill unconstitutional. Maharaj said that if the courts determine that the bill infringes the civil liberties of people under Section 13 (1) of the Constitution, Government could be found in breach of the doctrine of separation of powers.

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