Two recently signed agreements between Taiwan and its Caribbean ally St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on judicial cooperation were approved by Taiwan’s Cabinet on Thursday, pending legislative ratification for the pacts to take effect.
The two agreements between Taiwan and SVG — one on judicial cooperation in criminal matters and the other on repatriation of prisoners — were endorsed by the Cabinet at a weekly meeting, the Ministry of Justice said via a press release.
The former would allow the two sides to cooperate in criminal investigation, prosecution, court procedure, video interrogation, document provision, execution of searches and seizures, and crime prevention, the ministry said.
The second agreement would enable convicted individuals to serve their sentences in their home country if certain conditions are met, according to the ministry.
Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) has instructed Cabinet members to communicate with lawmakers across party lines to facilitate ratification of the agreements.
The two agreements were signed during the visit to Taiwan by SVG Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who is also the country’s Minister of Legal Affairs, in August.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel