~~Adz:Right~~BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 25TH 2006 - The Freedom of Information Bill, the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Bill and the Interception of Communications Bill will be given their first reading when the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly meets on Thursday.
The Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2006, the Chemical Weapons Prohibition Bill 2006, the Pesticides and Toxic Chemical Control (Amendment) Bill, 2006 and the Immigration (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2006 will be given their first reading and debated during this session.
The Bill to amend the Immigration Act, stands in the name of the Minister of National Security, Hon. Dwyer Astaphan. It seeks to impose an obligation on the master of a vessel to transmit passenger data to the immigration authority at the intended port of arrival, in advance of the arrival of the vessel in St. Christopher and Nevis.
The Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2006 seeks to increase the terms of sentences, which can be imposed in the Magistrate's Court for firearm-related offences. These are to be increased from the present terms of not less than 12 months and not more than 3 years to terms of less than five years and not more than 10 years.
It also seeks to increase the terms of sentences, which can be imposed in the High Court for firearm related offences. These are to be increased from the present terms of not less than five years and not more than 10 years to terms of not less than 10 with no upper limit.
The Firearms (Amendment) Bill, which stands in the name of Minister of National Security, Hon. Dwyer Astaphan, also seeks to delete from the Act, that a juvenile cannot be given a sentence of imprisonment for a firearm related offence.
The Chemical Weapons (Prohibition and Control) Bill, 2006, also stands in the name of the Hon. Dwyer Astaphan and it gives effect to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destination.
Minister of Housing, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Cedric Liburd, will seek parliamentary approval for a slight amendment to the Pesticides and Toxic Chemical Control Act, No. 18 of 1999.
~~Adz:Left~~The Freedom of Information Bill, which stands in the name of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, the Hon. Dennis Merchant, will seek to promote maximum disclosure of information in the public interest, to guarantee the right of everyone to access to information, to provide for effective mechanisms to secure that right and for related matters.
The Privacy and Personal Information Protection Bill seeks to make provisions for the collection, holding, use, correction and disclosure of personal information in a manner that recognises the right of privacy of individuals with respect to their personal information.
In keeping with the Denzil Douglas Labour Government's policy on transparency and good governance, those two bills are now subject to public discussion. Interest groups, non-governmental organisations and individuals can now obtain copies and submit suggestions, comments and recommendations to the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs.
