Govt activates ‘Plan B’ as police bills fail

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning, and Science, Technology and Tertiary Education Minister Colm Imbert yesterday assured the population that the defeat of the Police Reform Bills in Parliament did not spell disaster for Trinidad and Tobago, and Government would use other tactics to deal with the nation’s crime problem. At 2.30 am yesterday morning in the House of Representatives, the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2004 (which required a special majority for passage) was defeated after the 15 Opposition MPs present voted against it. Eighteen Government MPs voted for it.

As a result, Manning said Government would not proceed with the Police Service and Police Service Complaints Authority Bills — which could be passed by simple majority, but needed the first bill to be effective. Speaking briefly with reporters at the Hilton Trinidad, the Prime Minister said, “The bill as you know has not been passed in Parliament and therefore the Government proceeds in another direction.” Imbert said, “I got the impression that they (UNC) were not serious and that they have come to the conclusion that if they supported the legislation it would have somehow enhanced the Government’s image. I don’t think they are right.”