By Robert Hart, Staff ReporterJUSTICE MINISTER Senator A.J. Nicholson said yesterday that the current period of public emergency could be revoked before the end of the declared one-month time frame.
Senator Nicholson told The Gleaner that Prime Minister P.J. Patterson could advise the Governor-General to revoke the state of emergency as soon as he believes citizens are no longer under threat in the wake of Hurricane Ivan.
"We don't know whether it will go the full month or not. If (the Prime Minister) believes there are still opportunities for people to loot, it will remain," Senator Nicholson said.
MAXIMUM OF ONE MONTH
He explained that, constitutionally, the period of public emergency could remain in effect for a maximum of one month unless extended by the House of Representatives.
Senator Nicholson also noted that "the great danger remains" as several persons remain in shelters and electricity has yet to be restored to areas across the island. He suggested that the property of those sheltered could still be stolen, and that the darkness engulfing sections of the island was a breeding ground for criminal activity.
Prime Minister Patterson declared the period of public emergency about 2:00 p.m. last Friday, just hours before the full force of the powerful hurricane was expected to hit the island.
Senator Nicholson argued that with the state of emergency declared, the security forces were given increased powers to protect life and property.
