Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning. - KARLA RAMOO/TRINIDAD GUARDIAN

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

TRINIDAD AND Tobago's House of Representatives unanimously passed the Sunset Legislation Bill late on Wednesday, narrowly avoiding the TT$6 million fine the country would have incurred from the International Cricket Council had it not passed the bill by midnight.

The legislation, which covers with customs and immigration procedures, ambush marketing and security during the next year's Cricket World Cup, has since been made law after being signed by President George Maxwell Richards.

T&T's Senate had approved the legislation on Tuesday, despite complaints from the Opposition United National Congress that they were unable to study the bill properly since they had received it late.

During a special sitting of the Lower House on Wednesday, Opposition MP Nizam Baksh queried what he called the bill's "regimented and draconian" measures which he said would restrict fans to sitting still like statues during matches.

Baksh questioned whether Muslims would be unfairly targeted by stereotyping of persons under the Immigration (Advanced Passenger Information) Bill 2006 through which the TT Immigration Department will give visitor information to the United States Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, Michael Chertoff, last week signed a memorandum with T&T's Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, which allows for the country to share such information with the U.S.

Baksh, queried how visitors from Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, whose teams are scheduled to play in T&T and which have large Muslim populations, would be treated in the twin-island republic.

Praises

Wrapping up the bill, Minister of Sport, Roger Boynes, praised the bill which among other measures, allows visitors free travel within CARICOM after arriving at a given Caribbean port of entry.

"The World Cup is fostering regional integration. It is an excellent way for us to see the Caribbean as one," Boynes said.

Opposition leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, pleaded for Caribbean music to be allowed to be heard at the matches, knocking the bill's ban on musical instruments at matches.

Manning responded by saying the ICC has its own rules but added: "If it is possible, we will undertake to do it."