Public to have say on two bills before Joint Select Committee of Parliament

arbadians are being invited to share their views on the Cybercrime Bill, 2024 and the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (Amendment) Bill, 2024 before a Joint Select Committee (Standing) of the two Houses of Parliament.

In a statement on Monday, the committee invited the public, “whether as individuals, professional organisations, community-based groups, official and unofficial bodies with special interest and generally anyone who may assist with its work, to submit memoranda or other documents setting out their views and comments on the issues”.

Persons can make written submissions, with the option of also making an oral presentation of no more than ten minutes; or make oral presentations only.

Mailed responses should be addressed to the Clerk of Parliament, Parliament of Barbados, Parliament Buildings, Trafalgar Street, Bridgetown, and e-mails should be sent to parliamentbarbados@caribsurf.com no later than April 26.

The proceedings of the Joint Select Committee (Standing) will take place at the Parliament of Barbados and will be conducted in public. Notice of the dates when the committee will sit will be posted via the Barbados Parliament website.

Among other things, the Joint Select Committee has been tasked to enquire into and determine whether the Cybercrime Bill, as drafted, ensures compliance with the international conventions, global standards and best practices to counter cybercrime and to ensure international cooperation in the combatting of cybercrime.

It is also examining whether the Billd: curtails citizens’ fundamental rights to freedom of expression; provides the necessary checks and balances, safeguards and independent oversight to protect citizens’ human rights, liberties and privacy rights from potential abuses, including from expansive law enforcement powers in order to prevent miscarriages of justice; and provides adequate protection to all of the specific categories of persons who may potentially be vulnerable to cybercrime.

Among the other terms of reference are to: examine whether any of the provisions of the Cybercrime Bill are vague, overly broad, arbitrary and/or subjective and uncertain in its imposition of liability; examine whether the penalties imposed in the Bill are disproportionate and/or unreasonable in any way; and whether the Bill provides adequate protection for whistleblowers who expose cyber-related wrongdoing and, if not, whether such protection is provided in any other legislation.

It will also consider whether the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (Amendment) Bill, 2024 provides adequately for mutual international assistance in matters relating to computer-related crimes and for related matters.

The Joint Select Committee will make recommended changes, if deemed necessary, to the Bills as drafted for further consideration by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel.

(BT)