Switching Sides

• Author: Derence A. Rolle Davis
• Pages: 133-136

The Law: The Social and Economic Effect on The Bahamas 2000 - 2020

29. SWITCHING SIDES

There are two super powers in the world: The United States of America

and China. However, China does not overtly demand recognition as a super

power as America does, but it makes all efforts to reign in economic superiority

around the world. America can be readily noted as running to assist in giving

humanitarian aid around the world, ostensibly without any strings attached.

China on the other hand, is known to be the gift giver whose generosity seems

suspect with underlying demands. Those demands are usually to allow its

citizens to do the work needed to fulfil the gift attached. Both super powers are

self-serving.

The Bahamas has a strategic position in terms of its geographical location.

Both countries want to keep The Bahamas as an ally. For these countries, any

advantage that would present should a need arise, would put them and not us in

the best position. The Trojan horse story, should remind us all that those bearing

gifts may not necessarily be a friend.

The Legal Effect

In Darling v. COP (CRI/00046/2013) Senior Justice, Jon Isaacs, ruled that

the minimum mandatory sentences should be changed from four years as it

infringed on Article 17 of The Constitution. The decision was thus, deemed

unconstitutional.

The Correctional Services Act, 201436 was passed in 2014 with the

objectives of providing for -

“(a) the preservation and continuation of Her Majesty's Prison as "The

Bahamas Department of Correctional Services";

(b) the continued protection of the public through the supervision of persons

held in legal custody (hereinafter referred to as "inmates");

(c) the rehabilitation of all inmates through the application of work,

programmes and services;

(d) matters concerning the service of prison officers (hereinafter referred to as

"correctional officers").

36 Other Legislation passed during this year are the: Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act, 2014,

Juries (Amendment) Act, 2014, Abolition of Mandatory Minimum Sentences Act, 2014 and the

Medical Act, 2014.

133