By Robert Hart, Parliamentary ReporterTHE OPPOSITION has made good on its promise to submit a minority report on the controversial Terrorism Prevention Bill in Parliament, expressing strong resistance to the legislation in its current form.
It has called on the House of Representatives and Senate to restrict the definition of terrorism as it applies to Jamaica.
"We are strongly of the view that the legislation is too broadly drawn and threatens civil liberties, public protests and democratic rights and processes," the minority report stated.
It accompanied the main report of the joint select committee that deliberated for more than six months on the bill which has generated considerable concern on the part of human rights and other interest groups.
"We believe the definition of a terrorist activity and offence would be significantly improved if it incorporates the definition of terrorism in the Offences Against the Person Act and the Interception of Communications Act," the report added. In those bills, terrorism is defined as 'an act involving the use of violence by (persons), which by reason of its nature and extent, is calculated to create a state of fear in the public or in any section of the public.'
TOO LOOSE
The report noted that a current reference in the bill, to 'intimidating the public' was too loose and could easily cover legitimate public protests.
The issues raised in the minority report echoed the Opposition's long-standing concerns with the bill. However, it is expected that committee chairman K.D. Knight, the minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, will seek the approval of the House for other widescale adjustments made in the main report to the bill.
Among those adjustments is the removal of the death sentence for terrorism offences.
Signatories to the minority report were Opposition MPs Delroy Chuck, Abraham Dabdoub, Derrick Smith, and Senators Bruce Golding and Dorothy Lightbourne.
