By Robert Hart, Parliamentary Reporter

PARLIAMENT IS scheduled to debate the controversial Terrorism Prevention Bill today, despite an unfavourable minority report submitted by Opposition members of the committee which examined the legislation last year.

In the report, tabled in Parliament along with the majority report of the Joint Select Committee on November 9, Opposition members expressed strong resistance to the legislation in its current form.

"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.

CALL FOR RESTRICTION

The Opposition called on the House of Representatives and Senate to restrict the definition of terrorism as it applies to Jamaica.

Yesterday Delroy Chuck, Opposition spokesman on justice, indicated that he and his colleagues would stand firm against the legislation during the debate this afternoon.

"We are sticking to our position as highlighted in the report," he told The Gleaner.

In the report, the Opposition stated that 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.

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'.

LOOSE DEFINITION

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 outlined in the report echoed the Opposition's views as outlined since March last year.

However, K.D. Knight, minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, will seek the approval of the House for other wide-scale adjustments recommended in the majority report from the committee he chaired for six months.

Among those adjustments is the recommended removal of the death sentence for terrorism offences.