KINGSTON, Jamaica — Government Senator Abka Fitz-Henley is expressing support for plans by the Andrew Holness-led administration to impose tougher mandatory minimum sentences for convicted murderers.

At the same time, Fitz-Henley chided the Opposition People’s National Party for appearing to resist what he described as “substantive aspects” of the intended amendment to the law.

He declared his support for the draft legislation when he delivered an address as guest speaker on Saturday at the Central Executive of Generation 2000 (G2K). G2K is the young professional affiliate of the Jamaica Labour Party.

Fitz-Henley told the gathering at the JLP’s Belmont Road headquarters that it is important that the legislation be passed.

“I hear members of the Opposition, who presided over a massive increase in violent crime, seeking to interrupt us while we put in place measures which are to act as a deterrent to perpetrators of serious criminality. I am a strong supporter of the move to increase the punishment significantly for convicted murderers,” Fitz-Henley said.

The senator noted that during his formative years, “murders spiralled from 400 in 1989 to over 1,670 in 2005 under the former PNP administration”.

In that regard, Fitz-Henley said he was not impressed by criticisms from the Opposition of legislative amendments being made by the Government even as it pursues a multi-faceted and multi-dimensional approach to bringing down violent crime.

“We are making the decisive moves and taking the important steps to confront the major issues of our time. I can’t wait for that Bill to come to the Senate to further scrutinise it and ultimately vote in favour of it,” Fitz-Henley remarked.

However, the senator said he was not seeking to downplay the importance of consultation during the legislative amendment process.

“I want to encourage the current administration, of which I am a part as well, that though we take into consideration concerns expressed as we seek to perfect legislation and are not arrogant about the process of amending the law, let us not be distracted but to pursue that measure to increase the mandatory minimum penalty for murder. It is important that we get that bill passed with the substance of it retained,” he said.

Debates took place in the House of Representatives earlier this week on a Joint Select Committee report, which reviewed the Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Act 2023, Criminal Justice (Administration) (Amendment) Act 2023 and Child Care and Protection (Amendment) Act 2023.