House of Assembly Approves Several Bills

Contact: John Emmanuel

Tuesday, February 13, 2001 - Persons providing evidence in critical cases of criminal investigations can now be assured of greater protection from the state, as the St. Lucia House of Assembly on Tuesday February 13, 2001, passed a Justice Protection Bill.

The bill piloted by Minister for Legal Affairs, Home Affairs and Labour, Honourable Velon John, seeks to provide a mechanism, which will allow for the establishment of a proper and efficient witness protection programme for St. Lucia.

Under the bill’s many provisions, state witnesses will be assisted in efforts at re-location and identification adjustments, in exchange for their testimony in criminal cases.

The House of Assembly also passed the CARICOM Agreement on Social Security Bill, which makes it possible for St. Lucian nationals travelling within CARICOM member states for employment reasons, not to forfeit their social security benefits. According to Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, the Honourable Dr. Kenny Anthony, this provision has become necessary given the significant increases in St. Lucians who are taking up assignments within CARICOM member states.

The House of Assembly also passed the Immigration Bill at Tuesday’s sitting. This bill makes provision for the setting up of an independent body, separate from the Police Force, to oversee immigration matters on the island. Its establishment according to Dr. Anthony, signals a major shift toward civilianising immigration issues in St. Lucia. The new unit would allow for some fifty-eight police officers that currently undertake immigration duties to be re-deployed to other aspects of policing. An immigration board is to be set-up to oversee the implementation of the process.

Agriculture Minister the Honourable Cassius Elias also tabled the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Bill at Tuesday’s House sitting which seeks to require all products entering the island to provide information on any chemicals or pesticides used in the production chain for that item.

Meantime a significant development at Tuesday’s sitting was the House granting approval to Prime Minister Anthony to borrow well over US ten million dollars from the Caribbean Development Bank to finance the Shelter Development Project.

Under that project, being overseen by the Ministry of Planning and Housing, significant headway is expected to be made in efforts at addressing housing shortages on the island. The initiative targets low and middle-income earners and lends impetus to government’s PROUD programme that seeks to rationalize unplanned development on the island.

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