Government Senator Jepter Ince made this response to spokesmen of the Opposition yesterday while speaking on the Bill in the Senate.
He pointed out that under the amendment, police would now be able to cordon off crime scenes and institute a curfew.
Ince, who is the Democratic Labour Party’s candidate for St George North gave the assurance that more answers and solutions to the problem would come.
He further gave the assurance that the amendments would not in anyway change the functions of the Royal Barbados Police Force.
“So when I hear that police are going to have unlimited powers and would come and knock on a person’s door and kick it down I know that is not true. One has to ask the question is this the type of Barbados the citizens have envisaged? A society where there were rational thinkers for years?”
He said that when Barbadians speak about a peaceful environment, they are thinking of a country where they can move around without fear.
“That is the Barbados that we know. Should we allow it to deteriorate? Should we allow it to fall apart? Should senior citizens be denied the pleasure of going to the beach on mornings and enjoy the beauty of the island? That is what we are going to continue to allow in Barbados and not being held hostage by any segment in this society,” Ince said.
Ince maintained that if organised groups were allowed to operate as they please, that would constitute a threat to law and order and a threat to security.
He further maintained that persons involved in criminal activities must be demobilised.
Ince told the Senate that they cannot afford to give away Barbados to persons of criminal intent.
He suggested that Barbadians must stand up and be counted or die like fools. (NC)