JUSTICE MUST BE FAIR BUT FIRM, SAYS MP MARSHA HENDERSON IN HER SUPPORT OF THE LARCENY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2025

BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts, July 24, 2025 (SKNIS) – During the July 24, 2025, Sitting of the National Assembly, the Honourable Marsha Henderson, Member of Parliament for St. Christopher Two, voiced strong support for the Larceny (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to modernise and strengthen the sentencing structure for robbery-related offences in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The Bill, which revises Section 31 of the Larceny Act, introduces a tiered sentencing framework for robbery offences based on the level of violence, threat, and use of weapons. In her contribution to the debate, Minister Henderson, drawing on her experience as a former defense attorney, stressed the importance of fair but firm justice.

“No society should accept robbery, let alone armed robbery, as the norm,” MP Henderson stated. “It is a serious offence that demands proportionate punishment.”

She emphasised that while the penalties outlined in the Bill—ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment—may sound daunting, the legislation is designed to ensure consistency, clarity, and fairness in sentencing, in accordance with established judicial guidelines.

“When it comes to robbery, Madame Speaker, especially armed robbery, the court does not simply look at the crime in isolation,” Minister Henderson said. “Judges are required to weigh the full picture, such as what actually happened, how serious it was, whether a weapon was used, and even how early the offender took responsibility for the actions. The law provides a structured approach to sentencing, step-by-step guidelines to ensure fairness, to ensure consistency and clarity, to make sure that these three things are applied in the exercise.”

MP Henderson highlighted the Bill’s logical, tiered approach to sentencing, which acknowledges the difference between lower-level and aggravated robbery offences.

“A man who snatches a bag without using violence or threats is not the same offender as someone who storms into a shop with a firearm and terrorises the staff and customers. The court rightly applies different penalties depending on how dangerous or traumatic the robbery was, whether weapons were used, whether people were injured, and the degree of planning involved. This tiered approach is plainly logical and necessary. It recognises degrees of blameworthiness, while still holding every offender accountable,” the minister explained.

She further acknowledged that while the justice system offers pathways to rehabilitation, it must also stand firm in protecting victims and maintaining public safety.

In closing, Minister Henderson expressed her full support for the Larceny (Amendment) Bill, 2025, stating, “It balances punishment in one hand with fairness in the other hand.”

The Larceny (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is part of the government’s wider strategy to modernise the criminal justice system and promote safer communities across the Federation.

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