The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has a problem with the way Government granted Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley sweeping powers via amendments to the Emergency Powers Act in the House of Assembly on Friday.
President of the DLP, Verla De Peiza, called on Barbadians to adhere to the rules and policies during the curfew but cautioned them at the same time to be vigilant about other legislative changes around them.
“Yesterday [Friday] legislation was passed in the House of Assembly giving the Prime Minister sweeping powers, details of which were never enclosed in the circulated printed copy of the Bill,” De Peiza said in a media statement yesterday, while also noting that during the wrap up on the Emergency Management (Amendment) Bill 2020, the Attorney General proposed that the Bill be further amended “ . . . to allow Cabinet to delegate to the Prime Minister power to make such directives as may be required in the public’s interest”.
She said the effect of the changes was that neither Cabinet, the House, the Senate nor the Governor General would have oversight or even the right of consultation on directives given by the Prime Minister.
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