Panday awaits reintroduction of Police Reform Bill

OPPOSITION Leader Basdeo Panday yesterday said the UNC had no problem with the Police Reform Bills returning to Parliament at some future date, but they must be part of an overall package of constitutional reform which Government plans to undertake. Commenting on the provisions for National Security in the 2004/2005 Budget last Friday, Independent Senator Prof Ramesh Deosaran hinted that the Bills or some other manifestation of them would either be discussed by Parliament or a parliamentary joint select committee at some future date. Despite the increased allocation of $2.3 billion to National Security in the Budget, Deosaran said the population must see they are getting “value for money” and the question of legislation to address the long-standing concern about the Police Service’s proper management remained very relevant.

Panday reiterated that the Opposition was fully supportive of police reform and it would support the Police Bills once they are part of wider constitutional reform in Trinidad and Tobago. He said Government is only committed to piecemeal reform and Prime Minister Patrick Manning has not spoken to him about renewing their constitutional reform talks, the last of which was held in July. The Prime Minister said Government and the Opposition have reached agreement on the process whereby constitutional reform in TT could proceed. At a parliamentary joint select committee in September, Works and Transport Minister Franklin Khan hinted that Government could bring the Police Bills back to Parliament next year. The Bills were defeated in July following a marathon, three-day debate in the House of Representatives.