From left, Cooke, Patterson and Phillips.
Robert Hart, Staff Reporter
THE MINISTRY of National Security is hoping to get 10 pieces of legislation to Parliament which it believes will assist in stemming illegal activities in Jamaica.
Among the proposed documents for legislation are the Firearms (Amendment) Bill which seeks to introduce a new regime for the granting of firearm licences; and a Bill to allow the mandatory search and confiscation of proceeds from illegal activities.
Implementation of the new firearms policy had been promised for this legislative year by Governor-General, Sir Howard Cooke, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips. But up to last week, word from the Ministry of National Security was that the Bill is still in its drafting stage.
ILLEGAL DISTRIBUTION
The new policy comes amid concern about alleged illegal distribution of gun licences by the police. Under the law, applicants for firearm licences will be required to go to an independent central licensing authority. That body will comprise a retired judge, a retired Director of Public Prosecutions (or senior member of that department) and a retired senior police officer.
As for the Forfeiture of Assets (Proceeds of Crime) Bill, Donovan Nelson, com-munications manager at the National Security Ministry, says it is yet to be taken to the legislative committee for drafting.
"Consultations are taking place with various players involved," Mr. Nelson told The Sunday Gleaner. He said that dialogue is taking place on the Port Security Bill, which will grant the Ministry jurisdiction for enforcing port security standards and allow the establishment of a new security agency.
Government is also looking into the establishment of the National (Independent) Investigative Authority (NIA) which will incorporate the special investigative functions of some 10 state agencies and departments into one entity.
Legislation to establish the body will also be drafted after consultations and fine-tuning of the NIA's concept.
ALIENS AND PASSPORT ACTS
According to the most recent Government legislative programme obtained by The Sunday Gleaner, the National Security Ministry is also working on Bills to amend the Aliens Act and the Passport Act. But on Friday, Mr. Nelson acknowledged that a number of laws are to be amended consistent with Jamaica's ratification of the International Convention Against Transnational Orga-nised Crime and Protocols. That will also require the drafting of legislation related to the trafficking of humans.
Already before Parliament is the Finger Prints (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to introduce mandatory identification requirements for particular offences. That Bill, examined by a joint select committee of Parliament, has been taken to task by the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party which argues that the police should not have the right to fingerprint or photograph a suspect without a court order.
