Ramesh: Govt showing contempt of laws

RAMESH LAWRENCE Mah-araj is giving total support to trade unions in their crusade to get Government to implement the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). In a statement yesterday, Maharaj accused the Government of “showing contempt of the laws passed by Parliament.” He said OSHA was enacted by the Government under which he served as Attorney General “with the object to save the lives of the workers and prevent them from getting injured.”

He claimed the Government was showing “similar contempt” for the Equal Opportunity Act, the Compensation for Victims of Crimes Act, the DNA Act, the Sentencing Act, the Freedom of Information Act and the Integrity in Public Life Act. In the case of the Freedom of Information Act, Maharaj said by Cabinet decisions the Government had created several exemptions in favour of Government bodies to prevent the disclosure by Government of information held by the Government and Government bodies. He claimed the aim of the act was to promote “openness and transparency” but this was subverted by the Government which was “promoting secret Government instead”.

In addition, Maharaj said, the Government had permitted parts of the Integrity Act to be suspended and/or dispensed with without the consent of the Parliament. “The Judiciary and the Magistracy have been exempted by the government from obeying the Act. The Act requires the Judiciary and the Magistracy to disclose their assets. This is to promote an open and transparent justice system.” Maharaj said.

He added: “The government must therefore be condemned as a government ‘not of laws’ but instead it is a Government which is breaking the law. It is violating the oath of office taken by its members to uphold the Constitution of our country and the laws of the land. The Government has failed and continues to fail the nation as a role model for our citizens to follow. The Government has by its conduct and its action encouraged and continues to encourage potential criminals and criminals to follow it by committing crimes and lawless acts.”