New Virgin Islands’ Law allows for video link court evidence
While the law had support from both Government and Opposition, many in the legal fraternity told our newsroom “the law is simply to regularise a practice that has been going on for years in the court system here.”
Video links, which is about giving evidence via audio and phone links, has been practiced in the Virgin Islands (VI) jurisdiction for so many years, according to some three Attorneys.
They believed the law, which they support, is just to make it legal to avoid the practice being challenged. It has been the history of the NDP not to bring bills to the public for discussion, debate or input and the ability of House Members to explain the bills to the public during debates has been less than forthcoming.
Fast tracked without explanation again
The Bill was rushed through the HoA, giving the legislation its first, second and third readings in one Sitting, something that is usually left for emergency and national security legislations.
The Audio Visual Lick Act 2017 was passed with amendments and, as usual, those were not made public. The media is usually told when inquiries are made on Bills to “read the government Gazette to find the information, or wait until it's Gazetted."
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