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UDP Backs Off Preventive-D, PUP Demands Consultation
posted (July 19, 2011)
Last night you heard senior UDP Parliamentarian and representative for Mesopotamia, Michael Finnegan say that he had urged Prime Minister Dean Barrow to back off implementation of preventative detention. Such detention would require a constitutional amendment and accompanying legislation. He indicated that the Prime Minister seemed disposed to listen to the advice which - Finnegan said - was based on feedback from the community.

And while the controversial law seems that it will fall by the wayside without the executive will to implement it, the Leader of the Opposition isn't waiting around: he's written to Patrick Faber as Chairman of the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee calling on the Government to withdraw the amendment.

Briceno also notes that since the introduction of the Bill in May, the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee has only met once to discuss it and no date for public consultations has been announced.

Briceno, says, quote: "I note with concern that…just 24 days from today, the constitutionally mandated 90 day period for consultations will elapse…We…expect that…your Government will not seek to hold meaningless last minute consultations." Faber told us he will write back to Briceno explaining that he misunderstands the procedures; the period for consultations is at least 90 days, not a total of 90 days.

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