00:00As the government's new Special Operations Bill was set for reintroduction to both Houses and Parliament today, TV6 sought the
00:07views of some independent senators on the new bill.
00:10Senator Courtney McNish, a former member of the Police Service Commission, said he was happy to see some of the
00:15amendments he had suggested, now being included in the Special Operations Bill.
00:20At least two of the amendments I rallied for. So I'm happy at least that I've seen some of the
00:28amendments I wanted.
00:31I'm a little more concerned by the social development parts of the bill. That was in the previous bill that
00:39has been left out. I am not sure why, but we will get there and we'll have that discussion.
00:45McNish believes the new bill is better than the old bill, despite his concerns about the social and community development
00:51aspects of it.
00:52And he thinks that in conjunction with the newly opened mobile police posts, it will help with crime.
00:57I think it will. I mean, they are in fact trying to meet the crime where it occurs. So police
01:05posts, the Special Operations Bills.
01:09Also speaking with media was Senator Michael De Labesteed.
01:12The senior counsel says he too sees some improvement in the new bill, but he also harbors some concerns.
01:18On the last occasion, the power to make a court and the power to impose a curfew, but it limited
01:28to a certain period of time.
01:31That limitation has gone. And then as far as I, from the bill that I've read, which could be amended
01:40before it comes to the Senate,
01:41as soon as an area is declared a closed area, you have to get permission to leave the court and
01:48the court and it's really little areas within that.
01:53It seems that you have to get permission to leave the court and the area.
01:56De Labesteed acknowledges that the country's crime issue is serious, and he recognizes the government's efforts to fight it.
02:02But there are some other improvements he would like to see.
02:05I think I would like to see more, some sort of judicial oversight with respect to the powers, with respect
02:13to the curfew, with respect to making cordons,
02:18with respect to how long a closed area remains a closed area.
02:26So I'm not so comfortable with the fact that a closed area can remain a closed area indefinitely, or for
02:34the two-year period.
02:35So those are concerns.
02:36De Labesteed also admitted that the experience of the state of emergency has raised some concerns over the special operations
02:42bill.
02:43Dominic Ramroop, TV6 News.
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