Law will protect citizens

THE EDITOR: The Newsday editorial of June 25 focused on the Government’s passage of whistleblower legislation by simple majority.

The editorial writer put forward an argument that this may open the floodgates for the Government to impact citizens' rights by bypassing the opposition and the independent benches and “playing Russian roulette with important measures affecting rights and riding roughshod over citizens.”

It is interesting that in the very same newspaper is an endorsement of the passage by the TT Transparency Institute, which lauds the legislation as a safe space for witnesses and victims of corrupt practices.

The editorial writer neglected to consider the very right of citizens to be protected as opposed to oppressed. Additionally, and quite conveniently, the writer also neglected to consider that this piece of legislation – as well as numerous others that would empower the State’s fight against crime – has been used as a political weapon by the Opposition for the last nine years.

There is ample evidence of the Opposition not supporting important and impactful legislation by weaponising the majority requirement for passage of certain laws in the Parliament. Conversely, the record will reflect the support of the PNM while in opposition on these instances.

Lastly, the independents have not had an opportunity to weigh in on, propose amendments to, support or oppose because the opposition in the House has effectively denied them that chance. To presuppose their lack of support is flawed.

I congratulate the AG for ensuring that I and other citizens can be protected by laws designed to do that and for his outmanoeuvring of the political irresponsibility that has been the hallmark of this opposition.

I also commend MP Rai Ragbir for his stance in voting for the legislation and effectively forcing the hand of the opposition to support the polygraph bill.

DANIEL P WILLIAM

Diego Martin