Bakr: PM’s ‘more will die’ remarks insensitive

Attorney and leader of the New National Vision (NNV) political party Fuad Abu Bakr has criticised Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for saying more people will die, because of the Opposition’s failure to support anti-gang legislation, calling the remarks, irresponsible and insensitive.

Bakr said he was disheartened by Rowley’s remarks and said he should have chosen his words better. He added the remarks were reflective of the Government’s inability to treat with the increasing murder rate.

“As the leader of a nation he should have been prepared to give the nation hope and express optimism rather than make such a grim prediction which is grossly exaggerated,” Bakr said on Friday.

Bakr said even if the legislation was passed, it would not have been enough to cope with gang activities and said Government should focus on tackling issues of unemployment and education before focusing efforts on gang legislation. Citing the failure of the original anti-gang legislation to secure communities and reduce the murder rate, Bakr said the need to address social issues should be Government’s first priority.

He added aspects of the legislation, such as the provision for officers to conduct searches without the use of warrants, were in violation of citizen’s rights and could be abused by the authorities.

“I knew people who were held during the state of emergency in 2011 under the last anti-gang laws. It was a violation of their rights and I’m disappointed to hear that Government wanted to add a feature to the bill, where police would have been able to enter people’s homes without having a warrant and arresting them. In the wrong hands, gross abuse can occur with that power.”