Opposition raises ‘serious concerns’ against Police (Amendment) Bill 2024
During the First Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth HoA, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) read the bill for the first time.
He then moved a motion for it to be read a second time when Opposition Member Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6) rose on a Point of Privilege to echo his "very serious concerns with this proposed police act amendment going through the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd stages in one sitting.”
‘Serious incursions’- Hon Walwyn
Hon Walwyn said on perusal of the bill there are some very serious incursions on the fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizens of the Territory.
“We have not been able, Madam Speaker, to make the public fully aware as to what is contained in this bill and the possible implications on their right to privacy as provided for in the Constitutional Order of 2007.”
He said as a representative of District Six, he was unable to bring “a bill of this magnitude” that is so important to the people of his constituency.
“And so, Madam Speaker, I am raising my concerns that I do not think it is the right thing. There needs to be wider public consultation on this bill before it is made law. It is too serious a piece of legislation for us to 1,2,3 without the public not knowing all that is involved.”
Hon Walwyn concluded that it would be an “absolute travesty if we were to do this in the honourable House, Madam Speaker.”
‘We have to be careful’- Hon Melvin M. Turnbull
Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) also rose on a Point of Privilege to express concern about the bill being addressed in three straight readings.
“This is a new session of the House of Assembly. This Police Act has come and try to come to this House with many different forms, shapes and sizes,” Hon Turnbull stated.
The Second District Representative said legislators understand the nature of what they are dealing with in the Territory but they need to be careful adding, “It is how we are doing it, Madam Speaker, and we have to be responsible in how we are presenting something like this to the public."
Opposition calls for division of votes
Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) advised that the appropriate thing for the Opposition Members to do was to move a motion for the bill to be removed from the Order Paper.
Speaker of the HoA Hon Corine N. George-Massicote agreed with Hon Fraser; however, Premier Wheatley noted that the Opposition did not allow for the bill to be seconded before seeking to appear to debate and challenge the bill’s second reading.
However, once the motion was put for the bill to be read a second time, Hon Walwyn asked for a division of votes in which the Opposition was defeated 5-7. Opposition Member Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL) was the lone abstention.
Premier Wheatley said the Virgin Islands can no longer afford to delay legislation that helps to modernise the police’s crime-fighting abilities explaining that the bill is also part of meeting the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
He also said the bill was introduced in the last session of the HoA in mid-December 2024, allowing for the public to look through the bill, and that legislators also had ample time even during the holidays to enlighten their constituents about the bill.
“They could have found a little time during the merriment and carolling and whatever else it was. We had several working days since this bill was passed," Premier Wheatley said.
The bill is currently being debated.
More details to follow.
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11 Responses to “Opposition raises ‘serious concerns’ against Police (Amendment) Bill 2024”
there is far to much criminal movement in our little land
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
—Martin Niemöller