Credit Reporting Bill on pause in Senate

Debate on the Fair Credit Reporting Bill, 2021 was suspended in the Senate on Wednesday after Opposition Senator Caswell Franklyn complained he had not had enough time to peruse it.

At the start of the day’s sitting, Leader of Government Business, Senator the Most Honourable Jerome Walcott introduced the Bill which he said would not only make it easier for more people to access credit but lend to the growth and development of the business sector.

However, Senator Franklyn urged the Upper House to defer debate as he had received the document just before it was laid in the Chamber.

“So I think, Sir, it would really be unfair to me to allow debate on this matter, Sir, because I have not read it. So we [other senators] would be operating at a severe disadvantage if we participate in this debate. So I would prefer if further consideration of this bill be deferred, Sir,” he said.

President of the Senate Reginald Farley suspended the sitting for 10 minutes to allow the two sides to consult on the matter.

When the sitting resumed, Senator Walcott announced that the debate would be suspended.

However, he made it clear that the Bill was circulated to members last week.

“Discussion on this debate is suspended but I will note that the Bill was also circulated to the Honourable Senators on Thursday, December 2,” he said.

The Fair Credit Reporting Bill was passed in the House of Assembly on Tuesday.

Under the credit reporting system, Barbadians will have access to free credit reports, the contents of which they will have a right to challenge.

The legislation provides for the creation of a regulatory environment to promote the development of a fair credit reporting system in Barbados; the regulation of the use of such data; and the secure keeping of the private data of persons collected by credit bureaux. (SD)