The urgent establishment of a parliamentary standing sectoral committee on national security with ministerial representation was chief among the five agreements reached when the national stakeholders met yesterday at the Office of the President.
Expediting the appointment of the six constitutional rights commissions within 90 days was also among the areas agreed to by the group which was convened after the Lusignan massacre on January 26.
The statement after the follow-up meeting yesterday between representatives of the government, parliamentary political parties and civil society, said they also agreed to convene and activate the Parliamentary Constitutional Reform Committee to address issues before it and to examine further areas for constitutional reform.
The representatives also agreed to ensure the meaningful and effective participation of civil society in the parliamentary process and to explore an agreed mechanism for the continuation of the National Stakeholders’ Forum.
According to participants, the meeting was cordial in spite of recent tensions following the murder of Marcyn King, the sister of the country’s most wanted man, Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins and the detention of former army officer Oliver Hinckson on charges of advocating terrorism and uttering seditious statements.
The national stakeholders, according to the statement, reiterated their support for the joint services’ efforts to address the recent escalation of crime and agreed that the rule of law and the constitutional rights of all citizens should be respected.
The stakeholders also considered the recommendations made at the February 27 consultation.
PNCR-1G MP Deborah Backer, who was one of four PNCR-1G representatives at the meeting, expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the meeting and the five areas agreed to. However, she said, the most important part was now ahead – making those decisions a reality.
She said it was incumbent on all the stakeholders to ensure that the six commissions were set up within the timeframe agreed to and that the Constitution Reform Committee was reactivated. “Time limits have been set and we hope that we can look back in 90 days
