In view of an increasing number of rape cases, the prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, is taking a radical stand. He announced recently that his government would review sentences for those guilty of rape. From 15 to 16 years’ imprisonment with remission, he intends to increase the sentence to 60 years without remission.

It is only human that rape victims or their relatives want some sort of revenge for what has been done to them. For these people, the guilty should be given the maximum sentence. However, the government should make sure it is doing the right thing by achieving a balance between victims’ rights, offenders’ rights and the situation in prisons. The authorities are there to issue overall regulations and a certain justice and not to provide victims with revenge.

<B>Indisicipline and crime </B>

With all rapists being given 60 years’ prison sentences, prison officers would be faced with an even bigger problem than what they are facing today. While there is already the problem of overcrowded prisons, such an amendment to the law would make the situation really unbearable.

Since 1994, those sentenced under the Dangerous Drugs Act or for the rape of children or disabled people have been condemned to prison without remission.

According to specialists, this is one major reason why prisons have recently been confronted with so many problems of indiscipline and crime.

Prisons are overcrowded and their officers have difficulties dealing with all prisoners.

The attorney general’s statement that he would reinstate remission for all prisoners helped put some order in prisons at a time when violence and indiscipline were reaching a peak.

Rama Valayden made it clear that this measure would come along with more severe sentences for those guilty of such crimes.

But these announcements were made nine months ago and there has been no development in the matter since then.

And Navin Ramgoolam’s recent announcement seems to have created a ‘panic’ among prison administrators. “The direct consequence will be an increase in the number of prisoners – which is our biggest problem here,” complains an officer. The only hope is that the new sentence – if definitive – concerns only rapists, that is, a few prisoners only. If it was to be extended to all categories of prisoners, prison officers can’t even imagine what the situation would be like…