00:00To effect the special operations bill in UNC-held areas alone will make PNM areas steeped in criminality.
00:09This was the People's National Movement's response as they let off their counter to the bill in response to the
00:15PM's recent pronouncement.
00:17It's not that the PNM is approbating and reprobating on the law.
00:22We're clear the law is unconstitutional and cannot survive.
00:25But even if you take it at the government's level to say that it somehow can pass muster,
00:31they are saying most respectfully that the law will be such that it will apply only in the UNC areas
00:39and UNC municipalities from local government.
00:43So what does that mean? Doesn't it mean that there will be a migration of criminality to the areas where
00:47it's not going to be enforced?
00:48Meanwhile, Independent Senator Anthony Vieira notes this SO bill is quite different from the ZOZO introduced and failed in the
00:56parliament in January.
00:58Let me give the government credit for where credit is due by identifying provisions in this version of ZOZO which
01:08materially answer earlier criticisms.
01:11For example, this version has a two-year sunset close, more objective criteria for the declaration of closed areas,
01:21an express requirement that ordinary policing measures must be inadequate before a closed area can be declared.
01:31He is, however, troubled by the language of war permeating national discussions today
01:36and criticism that non-support of certain measures equates to supporting the narco trade.
01:42I want to dismiss the proposition that the choice is whether we want a police state or a bandit state.
01:53Rubbish! I want neither.
02:00The question is whether we can design a system that gives the police the powers they genuinely need
02:09while placing clear boundaries around those powers.
02:13Fellow Independent Senator Michael de Labesteed expressed concern about the constitutionality of the bill.
02:19For undoubtedly, Mr. President, the provisions of the bill will, if they become law, significantly infringe upon those rights.
02:27Whether that infringement, though it's significant, is sufficient for the Privy Council to strike down this proposed legislation
02:33as being unconstitutional is another matter and remains to be seen.
02:38He also questions the safeguards surrounding the exercise of emergency-type powers.
02:44What level of confidence can we reasonably have that the state will not exercise these powers for purposes other than
02:51the suppression of crime?
02:53And what about the presidential powers as per the bill?
02:57Under Section 80 of the Constitution, it is the cabinet that makes the decision whether the order is made to
03:05close an area,
03:06to declare a closed area, not the president.
03:09Under the provisions of the bill, it is the cabinet that decides that an area is to be designated a
03:14closed area and thereby placed under lockdown.
03:18Under the Constitution, the president is merely a rubber stamp and has no power or discretion to exercise any of
03:25the powers conferred by the provisions of this bill.
03:27Also on the independent bench, Senator Dr. Desiree Murray is calling for clarity on the issue of body camera use.
03:34While the prime minister said officers in closed areas must wear body cameras, this is a verse, Murray says, to
03:41clause 21, which says it is contingent on availability.
03:45I agree with the Honorable Prime Minister that this bill should mandate body camera use as the default requirement.
03:55Furthermore, it should not be enacted until a sufficient quantity of reliable body-worn cameras are produced, or procured, rather.
04:06And I intend to submit an amendment that supports the Honorable Prime Minister's declaration.
04:11She also expressed deep concern that the community development aspect was omitted from the present bill.
04:19Arvashita Wari, Rupnarein, TV6 News.
04:24Arvashita Wari, Rupnarein, TV6 News.
04:25Arvashita Wari, Rupnarein, TV6 News.
04:25Arvashita Wari, Rupnarein, TV6 News.
04:25Arvashita Wari, Rupnarein, TV6 News.
