Jamaican anti-terrorism bill will protect rights

Wednesday, November 19, 2003

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaican Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Senator A. J. Nicholson, has said that the Terrorism (Prevention) Bill was designed to balance the desire of the Jamaican people for peace, order and security from terrorism, while protecting their fundamental rights and freedoms as provided for in the Constitution.

He said it was not intended to create a State of Emergency in Jamaica, whether permanently or temporarily.

Senator Nicholson noted that the legislation was part of a commitment under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, which mandates all member states to take steps to combat terrorism.

As such, the Terrorism Bill, among other things, prohibits terrorist acts, the funding of terrorist acts, and punishes collaboration with terrorist organisations. It will ensure, that terrorist financing will be subjected to severe punishment under the laws of Jamaica, the Attorney General said.

Senator Nicholson said the Government wished to encourage broad debate on different aspects of the Bill and lamented assertions that the Government, through the legislation, was seeking to suppress, dissent, or to terrorise the Opposition. "Such assertions are not good for Jamaica nationally or internationally. If there is disagreement concerning any provision that is included in the Bill, let us not use words such as 'pernicious' and 'insidious'," the Attorney General stated.

"Let us not allow ourselves to be further divided on an issue, which of necessity, must be tackled by all countries which are part of the family of the United Nations," he said further. 

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