DISCUSSIONS are expected to be held between Justice Minister Herbert Volney and Foreign Affairs Minister Surujrattan Rambachan on the development of a bilateral agreement between this country and Venezuela in order to have Venezuelan citizens who are sentenced to prison in Trinidad and Tobago serve their jail time in their home country.

This according to a media release issued by the Justice Ministry following talks between Volney and Ambassador of Venezuela Maria Eugenia Marcano Casado last Tuesday on the issue of penal reform and offender management.

According to the release, Casado raised a number of concerns of the 22 Venezuelans citizens currently incarcerated in local prisons.

The concerns raised were: "The long waiting time for the trial process to begin; the long waiting time for appeals to be heard; access to medical care, and the length of time it took for offenders in breach of Trinidad and Tobago's immigration laws as well as those who have come to the end of their sentences to be repatriated."

Volney indicated that after seeking further information on each of the cases from the relevant authorities in order to advise on the best way forward, he will be initiating discussions with Rambachan, the release stated.

On the issue of the talks on penal reform and offender management, the release stated that the Venezuelan Government wished to learn from this country's experience in the transformation of the Criminal Justice System.

"Her Excellency noted that the Chavez administration had, a year ago, also embarked on the implementation of a strategic plan to reform Venezuela's penal system and upgrade the levels of preparedness of their police service.

"In this regard, the Ambassador noted that it may be beneficial for both countries to cooperate and share expertise and information to the mutual benefit of both States," the release stated.