Government to amend wiretap bill; PM to address nation Sunday night

The Mia Mottley administration has announced planned changes to the Interception of Communications Bill, following protests and widespread criticism.

It was announced Saturday night that necessary amendments will be made to the exception clause in the bill, which was passed in the House of Assembly last week.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley will deliver a national address on Sunday night in which she is expected to outline the factors that led to the decision to amend the clause, as well as how the adjustment will be executed to ensure “interceptions only by a judge’s warrant”.

Ahead of that address, the Prime Minister said, “This government has the humility to listen and always the courage to correct. I promised you that on May 27, 2018, and we will hold fast to that.”

In the media statement issued Saturday, it was stated that the Prime Minister will speak candidly with Barbadians about a number of other pieces of legislation that were recently debated and ratified in the House of Assembly.

These include the Criminal Proceedings (Witness Anonymity) Bill to offer greater protection to witnesses in criminal proceedings, the Police (Amendment) Bill that facilitates the upgrading of special constables fully into the ranks of The Barbados Police Service, the Juries Bill that will significantly enlarge the pool of citizens from which jurors can be selected and the Firearms (Amendment) Act.

According to the statement, “The Prime Minister is also expected to offer greater insight on the new Immigration Bill and Citizenship Bill, both of which received their ‘second reading’ in the House last Friday, and to speak to how it will benefit the country as well as the offspring of Barbadians.”

Other matters to be addressed include the recent industrial action by Sanitation Service Authority workers and last week’s ministerial statement delivered by Minister of Educational Transformation, Chad Blackman.

She will also speak to what has been described as “the preposterous, utterly and completely false and reckless statement by a political aspirant claiming that anyone without the new Trident ID card will be denied the right to vote, access to health care and pensions, and a driver’s licence and that their children will not be allowed to register for school”.

In her national address, Prime Minister Mottley will reflect on the value to Barbados of hosting CARIFESTA XV, which begins later this week. It marks the third time the island will host the regional cultural festival in more than 50 years. She is expected to encourage Barbadians to extend the best of Bajan hospitality to visiting delegates and performers.

The prime minister’s address will be broadcast on CBC Television and across social media platforms. (PR/BT)