Dr Moonilal: Gov’t overthrowing Constitution with the Civil Forfeiture Bill

Speaking at Jowelle’s Salon earlier today, Oropouche MP Dr Roodal Moonilal said he was on his way to Parliament to debate the Civil Forfeiture Management Bill.

Moonilal said, "This is a serious matter, a draconian piece of legislation and, in a nutshell, I think it should be explained to ordinary people (that) your property or car can be seized in circumstances where you have to prove your innocence.”

He said Government had already put a narrative out there that if one didn’t support the legislation he or she had something to hide.

Moonilal claimed the Government was taking away properties from citizens and was doing it by overthrowing the Constitution.

"They are doing it without the constitutional majority.

“I heard Mariano Brown on the radio talking to a PNM government minister speaking about withdrawing the bill and I wonder if that minister has anything to hide,” Moonilal said.

He added the bill could affect anyone who had a dollar in their pocket.

“The fact that you could be an innocent bystander, not having committed a crime, you could be charged not having been suspected of a crime," Moonilal claimed.