PARLIAMENT PASSES THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION OF INVESTIGATIONS ACT

PARLIAMENT PASSES THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION OF INVESTIGATIONS ACT

After much deliberation, Parliament yesterday (March 9) passed the Independent Commission of Investigations Act with 33 amendments which repeal the Police Public Complaints Act. The Bill has now passed committee stage and has been sent to the Senate.

This allows for the establishment of an independent commission which will investigate alleged abuses of Jamaicans by members of the security forces.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding in steering the bill said "this goes much further in helping us to create an institution that can hold accountable those to who we entrust this tremendous power and to say to them that while we support you in the lawful exercise of your duties, we are going to hold you accountable for those duties exercised, and in particular the extent to which those duties are implemented with full respect for the rights of the citizens of Jamaica."

He said it has been made explicit in the Act that the Commission has primary responsibility for the scene of an incident and that the Commission's representative shall issue direction orally or in writing to the police in terms of management of the scene of the incident.

PM Golding added that the quality of the Bill has benefited significantly from the debate that commenced in Parliament in February.