Rowley: Pepper spray law being worked on

The Prime Minister has said legislation for the use of pepper spray is currently before the Finance and General Purposes Committtee of the Parliament.

He said the committee is finalising the nature of the permits which will be required.

Speaking during the Prime Minister’s question segment in Parliament on Friday, Dr Rowley reiterated that the government had stated publicly its intention to approve pepper spray for the use of citizens.

“We have got advice from OLEP, the advice we sought as to whether it was safe enough to make it widely available. We indicated the answer was yes, we could, and that it would be done with the use of particular permits. This matter has been brought to Cabinet, it has found favour, and has been sent to Finance and General Purposes to finalise the nature of the permitting that is to be done, and very soon it should be out of Cabinet and available for operationalisation.”

Responding to Oropouche MP Roodal Moonilal’s question about whether a deadline had been set for the process to be completed, Rowley said,

“I wish I didn’t have to deal with this, because if my colleague from Oropouche East had dealt with it eight years ago, where the same gravity existed, where women were being attacked and killed in a similar fashion, I would not have to deal with it. But I give the assurance that in very short order in this government, approval would be granted and the women will have it in their hands.”