DEBATE ON a package of legislation to halt the galloping murder count is to begin in Parliament next week, following the tabling on Tuesday of six crime bills in Gordon House.

The murder toll this year has reached worrying levels, moving closer to 1,100.

Faced with mounting pressure from the public to respond to the crime surge, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, on July 22, made a comprehensive presentation in Parliament on legislative changes that would be introduced to cramp the serious crime wave across the country.

Wednesday night on his 'Jamaica Live' radio programme, the prime minister told the nation that the bills to tackle crime would be debated in Parliament shortly.

Of the six bills tabled, the Firearms (Amendment) Act, 2008 seeks to amend the principal legislation (the Firearms Act) to provide for a minimum sentence of 15 years for a person convicted before the Circuit Court for at least six specified offences.

Offences Against the Person Act

Parliament will also seek to amend the Offences Against the Person Act. This makes provision for a minimum sentence of 15 years for a person convicted in the Circuit Court for shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm or with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension of a person. Similar sentences will be handed down on persons convicted for wounding with intent, using a firearm.

Another sweeping legislative move involves an amendment to the Bail Act, which would prohibit bail for persons charged with a serious crime for a period of 60 days. However, the legislation is an interim provision and is expected to be in place for a period of one year from the date of its commencement.

A bill extending the powers of arrest by the police will also be debated and if passed will be implemented as an interim measure for a period not exceeding one year.

On the matter of sentencing provisions, Parliament will also debate An Act to Amend the Parole Act. The passage of this legislation would mean that persons convicted for serious gun crimes would not be eligible for parole before a minimum of 10 years.