Opposition legislators have made clear the need to strengthen the Police Bill 2024.
During a recent sitting of the House of Assembly on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, legislators highlighted its level of inadequate attention.
One such voice was that of Sixth District Representative Hon. Myron V Walwyn. The motion to amend the Order Paper and expedite the readings was moved by Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley and passed by a narrow vote of 7 to 5, with At-Large Representative Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE abstaining.
The decision to fast-track the legislation sparked sharp debates among members, with Opposition representatives citing concerns about the bill’s impact on fundamental rights and the lack of public consultation.
Hon. Walwyn further called for broader public consultation of the bill voicing “very serious concerns” over the bill’s implications for privacy rights under the Constitutional Order of 2007.
In defending the decision to expedite the readings however, Premier Wheatley had pointed to the urgency of modernising the territory’s crime-fighting capabilities, explaining that the bill addresses deficiencies identified in the fourth-round mutual evaluation report of the Financial Action Task Force.