Proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill too important for one parliamentary sitting says DFP leader

A peaceful protest was held outside parliament on Monday

Political Leader of the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) Kent Vital has added his voice to a decision made in Parliament on Monday to have a proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill read only once and not three times as was originally submitted in the Order Paper.

Amendments were made to the Order Paper when National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore, who was to present the Bill to parliament, told the House that he will be reading the Bill only once.

The matter was then moved and seconded.

“Something important like that should never be done in one sitting,” Vital told reporters outside of Parliament during what was described as a “peaceful protest against any injustice.”

He said the amendment will allow opposition Parliamentarians more time to analyze the Bill and the public to make recommendations.

“There will be some time to go back to the drawing board, to make adjustments, to make recommendations and that is what we expect,” he noted.

And according to him, then at the end “we can arrive at a Bill or an Act.”

He mentioned also that the DFP is concerned that the ruling party is going to use the Bill to maliciously attack the opposition, “or maliciously attack the rights of the people to protest.”

Recently Vital raised concerns over the controversial Bill and said the government needs to give Dominicans more time to examine the proposed legislation.

He said the DFP generally understands the need for anti-terrorism legislation, “especially because it is an element of the role that every country has to play internationally, in terms of abating global terrorism threats.”

Vital went on to say in the Constitution of Dominica there are a number of important precepts that are laid there that is related to the supremacy of God.

He further pointed out the fundamental rights such as the right to demonstrate and protest should be protected and one don’t want those to be confused with terrorist actions.

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13 Comments

  1. Man bites dogs
    June 27, 2018

    @ Bla Bla, Two weeks ago i took some documents to the financial center and most of the people that were there was workers supporters, I was surprise Danny Lunatic, wasn’t there begging for his dinner as well.

  2. Onlooker
    June 26, 2018

    I don’t understand the rush to pass this bill. There are more important and prudent decisions that are more pressing that this one. Some of us sit with our badge our silence, because we believe that it will not affect us, because we are comfortable in our jobs, ” our party” is in power. But what about the future of your children, their children? If Martin Luther King thought like most of you all do today, We would all be still in slavery with no rights! We are too selfish!! We only react when it only directly affect us. We need to stand firm and support what is RIGHT!!!!

    • June 27, 2018

      What’s the rush? Mostly all Caricom countries have similar legislations Dominica is lagging in that regard. I get very upset when we have to do things mainly to satisfy the interest of the US especially when it’s done to avoid sanctions been placed on us. Strange, all of the people who are against the passage of this bill for whatever reason will surely sing a different tune if government fails to act and Dominica is blacklisted. The government will be accused of supporting terrorism.

  3. Citizen Kane
    June 26, 2018

    Kent and the DFP seems to be the voice of reason in Dominican politics today.
    Keep up the good job and try not to adopt the extreme positions of the incumbents as much as possible. We are watching you!

  4. Concernwd
    June 26, 2018

    But UWP where are the protesters wow

  5. behave
    June 25, 2018

    well,its not only the uwp in opposition “mines”its all of us

  6. mine
    June 25, 2018

    It looks like UWP and DFP are the same.

    • June 25, 2018

      They are not the same they have taken the time to go thru the bill to see if it will be affecting the ways and lives of all Dominican people including yourself, sometimes you will find parties agreeing on some issues that’s what democracy is about, maybe it’s time you take the time to study the bill don’t think of only yourself think of the country.

      • June 27, 2018

        What country? Every one is concerned only about themselves and the country is a distant last. In Dominica is just give me, give me. Too many people who can afford including the opposition look to government for assistance. So it is time to ask what we can do for our country not what our country can do for us. This should be done in a meaningful way not in response to frivolous political action.

      • Neville
        June 29, 2018

        Anon and what exactly have you done for your country recently, I mean apart from supporting the rogue government.

    • Bla bla blah
      June 26, 2018

      Is you retarded? They protest to stop the passing of the bill in one sitting and they got it.. is idiots like you that keep voting for Skerrit. I hope your roof covered and you not by financial center begging for crumbs after the PM eat his breakfast, lunch and dinner…

    • Citizen Kane
      June 26, 2018

      How did you arrive at that from the man’s comments ? What are your thoughts on the act ?

    • Brian Connell
      June 26, 2018

      Blistering Ignorance

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