And while the proud public denunciation of that manifesto promise will surely make news - a new eavesdropping law is also sure to generate public controversy. It's called the Interception Of Communications Act and it will allow security personnel to use electronic wiretaps to listen to phone calls.
Now, it's not just an open season on phone calls; far from it, there are safeguards in place. Prime Minister Barrow said it is part of overall increased security profile.
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"We are, as pretty much all of our fellows in Caricom have done, now obliged to resort to this type of legislation that will allow us better to track and deal with criminal activity. Cell phones in particular are a kind of everyday tool for the criminal element and this bill if passed into law will give the government the power subject to very careful safeguards to be able to intercept that kind of communication."
Jules Vasquez
"Who may be eavesdropped upon and under what circumstances?"
Hon. Dean Barrow,Prime Minister
"A judge in chambers will have to make an order. The DPP as I said will have to make the application for such an order and will have to satisfy the judge that the order is absolutely required in the circumstances and absolutely justified. If you are asking me generally who is likely to be the subject of such an order I would say just as generally criminals and the criminal classes."
Jules Vasquez
"Is there indeed a clause in there for public morality."
Hon. Dean Barrow,Prime Minister
"Yes it says that you can apply for the intercept order on the basis that you fear that any of the crimes listed in the schedule to the act is in danger of being committed. You can apply as well on national security grounds, and I think national security grounds is defined or certainly together with what we would consider normal course national security grounds. You can apply on the basis that offences are likely to be committed that would go against public safety, public order, even public health. When the house committee considers the bill and the public makes representation I am sure that the form in which it has been introduced is not likely to survive completely intact, but I am equally sure that the essence of the bill will be maintained and that that essence is absolutely necessary in current circumstances."
As alluded to in the interview, this Interception Of Communications law was only presented for a first reading and will now go through what is expected to be a rigorous round of public consultations before it comes back to the house for debate.
