Government will make immediate amendments to the controversial exception clause in the Interception Of Communications Bill, 2025
which was passed in the House of Assembly last week, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley revealed in a press release issued yesterday.
On the eve of her national address scheduled to be broadcast tonight, Mottley said the move was a sign of the Government’s willingness to listen and correct course if necessary.
“This Government has the humility to listen and always the courage to correct. I promised you that on May 27, 2018, and we will hold fast to that,” the Prime Minister said.
She said tonight’s address would provide more details and the reasons behind the decision to revise the bill to ensure that interceptions can only be carried out with a judge’s warrant, reinforcing the country’s commitment to judicial oversight.
Only yesterday, a group of concerned citizens, civil society groups, and advocates for privacy took to the streets in a march to oppose the proposed Wireless Communications Interceptions Bill, 2025.
Several matters
During her address tonight, the Prime Minister also plans to discuss several other legislative matters recently ratified in the House of Assembly. These include the Criminal Proceedings (Witness Anonymity) Bill, aimed at providing greater protection for witnesses; the Police (Amendment) Bill, which facilitates integrating fully
the special constables into the Barbados Police Service; and the
Juries Bill, designed to expand the pool of citizen jurors.
Additionally, Mottley promised to touch on the Firearms (Amendment) Act, as well as new immigration and citizenship legislation that received second readings in the House of Assembly on August 8, highlighting their potential benefits for both the country and the descendants of Barbadians.
The Prime Minister is also expected to address recent national events, including the strike by Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) workers, the Ministerial Statement given last week by Minister of Educational Transformation Chad Blackman, and recent comments by a political aspirant claiming restrictions on voter rights, health care and school registration for those without the new Trident ID card, statements she called “preposterous, utterly and completely false and reckless”.
Furthermore, she will share her insights on the significance of hosting CARIFESTA XV later this week, the third time in over 40 years, and will invite Barbadians to showcase their renowned hospitality to visiting guests.
The Prime Minister’s address will be broadcast live on CBC TV and across various social media platforms.
(BA/PR)
The post PM to address nation Sunday night appeared first on nationnews.com.