National Security Act to go

Several PPP motions were proposed Wednesday in the National Assembly with mixed results. One, calling for the repeal of the National Security Act, was proposed by Clinton Collymore who said that the continued annual renewal of this Act meant that the country was effectively in a perpetual state of emergency. He said the Act was aimed at suppressing opposition parties, democratic forces and trade unions.

The Act gives the police power, inter alia, to search for arms and ammunition without a warrant. It has been maintained in force for many years and opposition critics say it was widely abused previously in that searches were carried out without warrant where arms and ammunition were not involved.

In opposing, Minister of Home Affairs Stella Odie-Ali remarked that there had been 25 years of peace under the PNC government and the government had never had to declare a state of emergency. She said the Act was necessary when it was passed in 1966 because of conditions created by the PPP. She proposed that the motion be approved and saw it as a compliment to the PNC for maintaining peace. The motion was approved.

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