00:00Attorney-at-law Fariai Musaisai describes the initiative as a positive step towards strengthening national security,
00:08but cautions that safeguards must be put in place to prevent incorrect profiling.
00:14My concern obviously is the surveillance and the profiling of persons coming into a country.
00:22And if we have indeed systems in place to regulate such a system,
00:30so such a system involves not only immigration, but it also involves national security,
00:37it involves customs and excise, it involves the TTPS.
00:41So it's a system that has to have persons in it who are well trained.
00:48Mr. Musaisai referenced a past incident involving former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley,
00:54whose name was reportedly flagged on a watch list, causing him to be detained.
00:59The attorney notes that names are often duplicated or shared by many unrelated individuals in Trinidad and Tobago
01:07and highlights the need for careful verification before action is taken.
01:12Certainly if the system is incorrect with its information or improperly targets someone,
01:19what is the redress?
01:25What is the redress?
01:26So they must have something in that legislation that allows for speedy redress if it is your constitutional rights are
01:34infringed.
01:35He also raises concerns about privacy protections and the handling of personal data,
01:41warning that while systems like these can improve screening capacity,
01:45governments must ensure proper regulation and transparency to protect law-abiding citizens from misuse or unintended consequences.
01:55There has been concerns in the UN where this information has been used for political mischief to silence trade unions.
02:07So we have live examples, we can give examples of where it has been misused by authorities and even authorities
02:18in democratic societies.
02:19So yes, it is good, it's good to have it, but it must be proportionate and it must be balanced.
02:26Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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