Valley confident Bills will be passed

Government is confident that its flexibility on the issue of the Police Reform Bills will lead to the bills being passed. Leader of Government Business Ken Valley stressed yesterday that Government was prepared to meet the concerns of those persons who had reservations. He was speaking at the post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall. Valley also stated that Government spent “much lower” than $5 million on the advertising blitz aimed at whipping up public support for the bills.

The bills which requires a two-thirds majority must get the backing of the Opposition UNC and Independent senators, both of which have been very critical of the legislation. Asked on what was his optimism based, Valley said he didn’t want to disclose too much. Part of Government’s  strategy for moving forward was to say as little as possible for as long as possible, he said. However he did confirm that he had been meeting with Independent Senators. “I met them only yesterday (Wednesday).

“We talk all the time,” he said. He wanted to assure the population that Government had “a clear plan” (for moving) from here (non-passage of the bills) to there (passage of the legislation) and it is going to be unfolding with time.” “People have concerns and we have to meet those concerns...We are attempting to deal with them. We are saying that this  legislation is not the be-all and end-all, but it is an important infrastructure,” he said. The bills go to the Senate on June 29.