T&T Gov’t defends constitutionality of new crime legislation

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The Trinidad and Tobago government is defending the constitutionality of a new crime legislation it piloted Friday, one day after a state of emergency (SoE) ended.

Attorney General John Jeremie, who piloted the Special Operations Bill, told Parliament that the constitutionality of the bill is based on the balance that it strikes between the enhanced security powers granted to the services and the protection of fundamental rights and the rule of law.

“It allows for temporary security measures, cordons and curfews, to be established or declared in closed areas, but there is a large measure of oversight,” Jeremie said, noting that “while the bill gives security forces special powers, warrantless searches under specific circumstances, it is designed to be a limited and temporary measure and it is distinct from a state of emergency”