Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley agreed late Friday to establish a committee to consult with stakeholders and reach consensus on the new Interception of Communications Bill, 2010. The PM said Government and Opposition MPs will meet with the professionals (security agencies) with a view to reaching agreement on a bill that can be approved in Parliament this Friday. Persad-Bissessar made the announcement during the contribution of Opposition MP Colm Imbert on Friday night. Imbert said he was pleased with the development.
The bill was presented for debate in the House of Representatives on Friday afternoon by National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy. It requires a special majority vote to be passed. Although the People's Partnership Government has the required majority on its own, Persad-Bissessar said the legislation was too important to be approved without the support of the 12-member Opposition People's National Movement. The bill seeks to allow the tapping of phones after approval is granted by a High Court judge. The legislation was brought after Persad-Bissessar revealed, a week ago, the illegal tapping of the phones of prominent citizens of the country, including President George Maxwell Richards, former Chief Justice Sat Sharma and former acting Police Commissioner, James Philbert.
Yesterday, Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives, Dr Roodal Moonilal said, "the Government and Opposition arrived at an arrangement whereby a committee of both sides will meet to discuss amendments and recommendations from the Opposition to arrive at an acceptable bill which the Opposition is prepared to support at the conclusion of the debate on Friday." Moonilal said they were hoping for no more than three meetings in order to arrive at an agreement in order to pass the bill. The first meeting is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at the office of the Attorney General.
The bi-partisan committee comprises:
Chairman-Roodal Moonilal
Prakash Ramadhar, Legal Affairs Minister
Herbert Volney, Justice Minister
Jairam Seemungal, Parliamentary Secretary in the Legal Affairs ministry
Collin Partap, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister
Dr Tim Gopeesingh, Education Minister
Dr Keith Rowley, Opposition Leader
Marlene Mc Donald, Opposition Chief Whip
Donna Cox, MP for Laventille East/Morvant
Colm Imbert, MP for Diego Martin North East