Last month, concerns were raised by UDP Senator Sheena Pitts regarding the 13th amendment, and how it impacts law as it relates to states of emergency. When we last spoke to Minister Kareem Musa, he informed us that before the amendment was be tabled, they would conduct public consultations. And today he went into further detail on what those consultations will look like.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"As you know the 13th amendment Is a constitutional amendment and we are engaging in a public consultation this Wednesday I believe deputy this Wednesday at Swift hall, 10:00 Am on Wednesday at Swifthall. In terms of the 13th amendment I said it before and I will say it again this is not a new legislation this law has been in existence since the year 1993 we are merely moving it upgrading so to speak to give it an extra layer on protection in our constitution as deputy was able to demonstrate today in our COMPSTAT meeting in explaining the contents of this 13th amendment. There are more safe guards now with this 13th amendment with the declaration of special areas than there are safe guards for the state of emergency law that both administrations ours and the previous have been using when it comes to declaring a state of emergency. Now when you Are declaring a special area you are going to need the approval of the entire nationals security council not just the minister or not just the compol or the prime minister can declare a special area and so it requires greater oversight, greater input from our security forces and the entire national security council before a special area can be declared."
