The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) launched, today, the 2021 edition of its Mauritius Criminal Law Review during the opening ceremony of a conference organised in collaboration with the United Nation’s Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Indian Ocean Forum on Maritime Crime at Le Méridien Hotel in Pointe aux Piments. The theme of the conference was ‘Reinforcing the Criminal Chain of Maritime Crimes at National, Regional and International Levels’.
The DPP, Mr Satyajit Boolell, the UNODC representative, Mrs Pooja Bissoonauthsing, and other eminent personalities were present on this occasion.
In his address, the DPP highlighted that this conference provides the opportunity to Officers to share experiences, present academic papers, and broaden their knowledge. The partnership with the UNODC, he pointed out, gives a new regional dimension to the conference and enables local participants to interact with their counterparts from other countries.
Mr Boolell underscored that maritime crimes present many challenges as they occur most of the time out of sight, out of mind, and is therefore difficult to investigate. There is thus a need to probe and carry out more thorough investigation so as to establish the exact facts and act accordingly, he added.
He also spoke about the issue of drugs which are offloaded in the Mauritian territorial waters and are picked by small boats which are not captured on the radar system. These situations, he outlined, also present several challenges to Law Enforcement Officers adding that several means have to be devised so as to effectively address same.
Furthermore, the DPP observed that maritime crimes in the region are on the rise due to, among others, globalisation and digitalisation. Those who were once involved in piracy are today organised crime perpetrators and generate more illicit revenue, he stated. As such, he emphasised, there is a need for Indian Ocean countries to cooperate so as to be able to closely monitor and have control over their respective Exclusive Economic Zones in a bid to discourage organised crimes in the region.
DPP Boolell also highlighted that such conferences should be organised more often so as to share best practices aimed at better countering crimes across borders. Another proposition made was the creation of an Afrojust, similar to Eurojust, so as to enhance cooperation between countries of the region and ensure that there is no culture of impunity.
As for Mrs Bissoonauthsing, she underlined the importance to build on existing foundations so as to enhance collaboration in the fight against maritime crimes. There must be a willingness from the relevant stakeholders to tackle perpetrators of maritime crimes, who are constantly having recourse to new means and technology in their actions, she said.
2021 edition of Mauritius Criminal Law Review
It is recalled that the first edition of the Mauritius Crime Law Review was launched in 2014 while the fifth edition has been launched this year. The Review has become a toolkit for members of the legal profession and academics, among others, as it provides a critical analysis of important judgements previously given.