The government will soon be tabling the Witness Protection Bill 2015 in the National Assembly as it moves to offer better protection to persons testifying in the Courts, particularly in those high-profile cases.

Governance Minister Raphael Trotman told reporters on Thursday that the draft Bill is currently being reviewed by a sub-committee of Cabinet.

Once complete, the administration will move to table and debate the Bill in the Assembly for subsequent passage and implementation.

According to Trotman, the legislation is expected to offer a greater level of protection to witnesses who give evidence in the Courts under threatening circumstances.

He said it will offer protection against intimidation and physical harm to witnesses and their family members, during and after testimony.

The Bill is also expected to make provisions for safe houses and new identities. Trotman said several CARICOM countries including Trinidad, Jamaica and Barbados are already collaborating to house witnesses safely in each other’s jurisdiction.

To this end, he expressed the hope that this legislation will allow Guyana to also collaborate with the sister countries on that level.

The Minister said Guyana stands to benefit from support from the more developed countries. There have been calls for Guyana to implement a witness protection programme for several years as witnesses would refuse to show up in court during high-profile trials.

There have also been reports of witness tampering and intimidation during several well publicised court cases.  (Kurt Campbell)

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