AG: Interception of Communications not about more executive power

ATTORNEY General Faris Al-Rawi said amendments to the Interception of Communications Bill were about the right to a fair trial and not about giving the executive more power.

He was winding up debate on a motion to consider the House amendments to the bill in the Senate on Wednesday.

He recalled that Opposition Senator Anita Haynes in her earlier contribution said the amendments were about trying to get more power for the executive.

"This is not about power for the executive. She has not read the motion. It is about power for the courts in exercising their discretion on admissibility of evidence."

He recalled Opposition Senator Wade Mark claimed that Al-Rawi was "upset with the Opposition" and it was his and Government's intention to "gut, slaughter and attack fundamental rights". He said Mark had called for the opinion of attorney Fyard Hosein, SC, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard and Edward Jenkins, QC ,to be tabled.

Al-Rawi said the constitutional opinions would not be tabled and he pointed out that former attorney general Anand Ramlogan and former senator Gerald Ramdeen passed laws to amend the Bail Act and to create child rehabilitation centres. He said both men, then armed with opinions the State produced, went to court to challenge the very laws they passed. He also said the contribution from the DPP would not be tabled because it concerned matters of national security.

He also recalled that Mark said the right to privacy is fundamental, but he added that the right to life is equally fundamental. Al-Rawi argued that the law is designed in its legitimate aim to safeguard a number of aspects: right to fair trial, upholding the rule of law and protection of lives.

The motion went to a division and all 15 government senators and Independent Senator Anthony Vieira voted for, all five opposition senators and independent senators Deoroop Teemal and Hazel Thompson-Ahye voted against, and the remaining six independent senators abstained. The motion was passed.