PhillipsPEOPLE COULD be fined up to $200,000 if they are found guilty of breaching the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus) Security Act which was approved by the House of Representatives yesterday.
The Bill, which aims to improve security on the university campus deals with general security matters including vehicular traffic, illegal vending and crime.
Leader of Government Business Dr. Peter Phillips said in its early existence the campus did not have much of a problem in controlling traffic and illegal vending. He, however, noted that with the substantial growth in the campus population in recent years the problems of crime, illegal vending and vehicular traffic had exploded.
"This Bill seeks to bring some order to the general security of the campus," said Dr. Phillips, who piloted the Bill.
Unauthorised parking, the indiscriminate operation of taxis, trespassing by persons who raid fruit trees and unauthorised vending are among some of the offences under the legislation.
Persons who desire to carry on trade on the campus will have to seek and get the written permission of the Campus Finance and General Purposes Committee.
Leader of the Opposition for Business, Derrick Smith, supported the Bill, claiming it would increase the security of students as well as protect legitimate business operators carrying on trade on the campus.
He, however, suggested the Government review whether the police post on the campus was sufficiently staffed to carry out its function of securing the campus and its population.
"We need to ensure that we have the requisite police personnel on the campus," he said.
