Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Munroe recently gave an update on the proposed legislation on parole while visiting the Bahamas Department of Corrections.

Munroe said the bill is currently with the Law Reform Office where the final version for Cabinet approval will be prepared.

The National Security Minister is hopeful the legislation will bring about needed reforms.  He said, “when we were doing the consultation period we came and we had a meeting with the inmates, themselves, to explain to them a number of things.  One, the act doesn’t apply to them because it can only apply to people whose punishment at the earliest happens after it is passed.  And because the first effect of the act is to do away with remission.”

Munroe added, “right now if you come to prison and the court sends you for twelve months Commissioner Cleare will tell you he’s gonna release you after eight months because four months comes off right away, four months of every year.  The first thing the act is gonna do is do away with that.  No time will disappear, you will serve twelve months, eight months will be in the facility, four months will be in the community.  The difference is this, under the current system if you get out after eight months and you commit a crime that very day you never serve the balance of those four months.  With parole if  you get out after eight months on parole and you commit an offence on day one you are returned to the facility to serve those four months.  And so that’s a reversal that can’t apply to  anyone who is already in here cause it’s actually taking away something they have.”