This is according to Minister of Financial Services and Investments, Allyson Maynard-Gibson.
But she reminded parliamentarians during debate on Anti-Terrorism Bill on Wednesday that rushing legislation is rarely successful.
“There is no such thing as temporary legislation. It is never temporary,” she said. “We therefore wanted an opportunity to review the working of similar legislation in other countries to ensure that we were not compelled to consider legislation which might, in other circumstances be regarded as undesirable and even threatening to entrench civil liberties.”
The minister insisted that the government must ensure that the fight against terrorism is not carried out at the expense of the rights and freedoms of citizens which is an essential element of the constitution.
“It should be noted that The Bahamas is obligated by the Inter-American Convention against corruption to ensure that actions taken in the fight against terrorism shall take place with full respect for the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms,” stated Minister Maynard-Gibson.
Garden Hills M.P, Veronica Owens agreed that the Bahamas should support the United Nations efforts against terrorism worldwide, particularly because of the adverse affect the financing of terrorism will have on the country’s financial services sector.
“It is imperative that we take our time in the debate of the bill and we are careful to take all of the constructive contributions of members in this place and ensure that in the best interest of the country, we give this bill the priority it should be given,” said Ms. Owens.
Initially, she requested the indulgence of Speaker of the House of Assembly, Oswald Ingraham, as she spoke on other issues which she felt are of national importance.
“There is no more important issue before this nation at this time than the issue related to the four minors who have been charged with manslaughter of the first of the five missing children from Grand Bahama,” said Ms. Owens.
However, North Abaco M.P., Hubert Ingraham on a point of order, brought to the attention of the House Speaker that the matter is before the court, therefore it should not be discussed publicly by parliamentarians.
“Member for Garden Hills, in keeping with the rules of parliament, a matter that is before the courts should not be addressed in parliament,” said Mr. Ingraham. She insisted that her contribution would not address the legalities of the matter, however Mr. Ingraham emphasized that it still should not be commented on.
Meantime, members of the Free National Movement took the government to task, for what they consider as a “severely flawed” bill due to the multiple amendments needed.
“How could the government bring such a sloppy bill to parliament. I can’t believe such a bill came out of the Churchill Building. A bill as serious as this, to leave the Churchill Building in this condition is disgraceful. It’s carelessness,” Opposition MP Alvin Smith said.
Earlier, Attorney General Alfred Sears foreshadowed that there would be amendments, adding that a draft is circulating in the committee stage.
“The contribution of members on both sides has guided the government. I hope in the committee stage, I trust that we will be able to craft a bill that would have the support and the wisdom of all members,” he said.
It is the view of FNM members that the bill should have been withdrawn and amendments made before heading to the committal stage. Opposition Whip, Brent Symonette joined his Mr. Smith, stating that it made no sense to debate the bill in its state, knowing that substantial amendments were to made.
“The amendments suggested are substantial in the sense that the whole definition of terrorist act is deleted from the bill before us and brought back in a new form,” he said. “These are not minor amendments so seeing that the government does not want to withdraw the bill and in my opinion bulldoze it through in this way, maybe the leader of the House or the Attorney General will suggest whether or not when we commit committal stage, we will adjoin for a period for the government and opposition to consider these amendments. It’s only fair that there be substantial time for consultation that this government practices so much,” Mr. Symonette said.
Leader of government business and Minister of Labor and Immigration, Vincent Peet, made it clear that the government had no intention of withdrawing the bill and there would have been sufficient time during the committal stage to consult on amendments.
By Hadassah Hall, The Bahama Journal
