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Knight THE INTERCEPTION of Communications (Wiretap) Act has been referred to a Joint Select Committee (JSC) of Parliament.
The Bill was tabled in Parliament in mid-December. Prime Minister P.J. Patterson named it then as one of several Government measures responding to criticisms of corruption in the public sector, including illegal wiretaps, in December.
Minister of Information, Senator Maxine Henry-Wilson, had promised in December that the Bill would be referred to the JSC in time for it to be studied and a report tabled before the end of the legislative year. But, with the 2000/2001 session of Parliament expected to end late March, it seems very unlikely that the deadline will be met.
Acting House Leader Terry Gillette named five Government MPs as members of the Committee when he made the announcement on Tuesday. He said that those were the only names he had been given by House Leader Dr. Peter Phillips. However, Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Audley Shaw, said that he had given the names of the three JLP members to Dr. Phillips the previous week.
The JSC is expected to be comprised of Minister of National Security and Justice, K.D. Knight, who is piloting the Bill, as chairman, Government MPs Canute Brown, Easton Douglas, Alethia Barker and Dr. Donald Rhodd and JLP MPs Derrick Smith, Delroy Chuck and Clifton Stone. The Senate will name its members on Friday.
The Bill seeks to make comprehensive provisions as to the circumstances for, and the manner and extent of, interceptions of communications transmitted over a telecommunications network and to impose safeguards and controls appropriate to command public confidence in such interceptions.
Interceptions will have to be authorised by warrant issued by a judge in accordance with the Act. There has to be reasonable grounds for believing that the person by or to whom the communication is transmitted consents to interception.
