The COVID-19 (Prevention and Control) Bill was passed in the House of Assembly on Tuesday night. On Tuesday morning Prime Minister Allen Chastanet indicated that the Bill will serve as a replacement to the state of emergency — which is scheduled to end on September 30.
The Bar Association of Saint Lucia called for it to be deferred in a statement on Monday night:
“The Bar Association of Saint Lucia has today written to the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the Speaker of the House of Assembly to request that the COVID-19 Bill be deferred pending public consultation and review and comment from the Bar Association. This Bill first came to our attention on Friday via social media.
“The Bar Association was not consulted on this Bill. The passing of such an important Bill through all stages at this one sitting of Parliament without stakeholder consultation is unacceptable. The Government of Saint Lucia would have had ample time to undertake the necessary consultation on this Bill and we should under no circumstances accept a compromise of our rights and civil liberties due to this lack of understanding of the necessity of public consultation, our democracy and the Rule of Law.”
The Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association (SLHTA) joined the Bar Association, and sent the following letter to the government on Tuesday morning.
“The SLHTA, late last week, was made aware of a document circulating on social media titled the COVID-19 (Prevention and Control) Bill. As the document was at no time presented or mentioned to us via official channels, we initially questioned the authenticity of the document, but learnt last Friday that it was indeed an authentic bill.
“Given the importance, the context and the longevity of the proposed bill and its great relevance for the tourism industry, it is not only astonishing but extremely concerning that the Ministry did not find it appropriate or necessary to invite dialogue with the SLHTA to review the content of the bill.
“We are alarmed this morning to realize that the bill is scheduled to go before parliament. We noted that the St Lucia Bar Association registered similar concerns and has written to the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the Speaker of the House of Assembly to request that the COV1D-19 bill be deferred pending public consultation and review and comment from the Bar Association. We want to add our voice to that of the Bar Association and request that the COVID-19 bill be deferred pending consultation with the SLHTA and other stakeholders.”
Opposition Leader Philip J. Pierre called on the prime minister to listen to the two agencies, stating in parliament: “This Bill has not been properly ventilated and I think the prime minister should at least for once, listen to some people who; the SLHTA and the Bar Association. I say the SLHTA first because they are the ones who the Bill seems to impact on the most. The SLHTA has asked that this Bill be deferred, the Bar Association also, I think the government should defer it at least for some level of discussion. If it was only the Opposition I understand that behavior but it’s not only the Opposition, other people have asked for its deferral.”
It was not deferred and Pierre was the only Opposition MP to speak on the Bill. It was subsequently passed. Senators are scheduled to debate it on Thursday. Earlier today, the prime minister and Attorney General Stephen Julien defended the Bill. Read what they had to say by clicking here: https://stluciastar.com/breaking-st-lucia-government-standing-ground-covid-19-bill-will-not-be-deferred-ag-says-there-was-sufficient-consultation/
