Opposition Senator Ryan Walters says the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is objecting to the Interception of Communications Bill, 2025 because it is “an untidy bill”.
“What we are against, Mr President, is an untidy bill,” Walters told the Senate yesterday.
He said Government was attempting to shape a perception of the DLP that it was against the bill.
“As people say, when you start wrong, you end wrong,” Walters said.
“There are some things that are being rushed and this is one of them.”
The Opposition senator suggested that there had been inadequate time for the public to consider the bill.
“And we are asking for some more time for private dialogue, for public inputs into the content of this bill.”
He suggested that of the 21 days available for consideration of the bill, four or five would have been taken up with Crop Over.
Walters said there was a public perception that politicians in general struggled with “trust” and “abuse”.
“The public is going to be faced with a whole set of legislation being rushed to give the opinion that they (the governing Barbados Labour Party) are doing something about crime, cost of living, energy, health, everything, Mr President.”
He said Barbadians were not happy.
Walters added that the people were appreciative of the efforts of the DLP for “forcing” Government to bring the two amendments to the bill before the Senate. (HH)
