Intelligence agency legislation completed

As of Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Keith Bell

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

KEITH Bell, State Minister for National Security, said that while the long anticipated legislation to support the National Intelligence Agency is complete, it must now make its way through Cabinet before it is brought to Parliament.

His comments came more than a year after National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage made similar statements to reporters, bringing the Christie administration’s credibility on the matter into question.

Yesterday, following a Cabinet meeting, Senator Bell and Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis also declined to talk about the government’s plans to deal with violent crime in the country, weeks after Prime Minister Perry Christie promised to introduce new, tougher measures to deal with the issue.

The NIA is intended to be an intelligence gathering hub where law enforcement agencies would combine their efforts to pinpoint and address threats to the national security of the country. It was launched by the PLP shortly after the 2012 general election.

Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner has in the past accused the government of “running a spy agency with no clear legal footing and no accountability.”

The government has since denied that the NIA is spying on civilians.

In May 2014, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis called on the government to shut down the NIA.

“They are working outside the law,” Dr Minnis said at the time. “They should not have started outside of the law. They should now be closed. It should be shut down until the laws and framework are in place to govern it.”

In December 2014, Dr Nottage told the media that the government had to postpone tabling the NIA legislation because the Office of the Attorney General had requested to review it.

He said at the time that he intended to have the legislation tabled before Parliament broke for the holidays in 2014. That, however, never happened.

Mr Bell had previously told The Tribune that the law would be ready by year’s end in 2014.

“Because of the draconian nature of a National Intelligence Agency we want to ensure we do it right,” Mr Bell said at the time. “We could’ve put something together a long time ago, you know, just copy and paste, but we’re not doing that. The minister (of national security) himself has taken personal responsibility of that and he himself is spearheading those meetings to ensure that the act is fair and transparent and what we envision for the country comes to fruition.”

proudloudandfnm 8 years, 11 months ago

Well if Nottage is involved then we all know it's a complete waste of time....

asiseeit 8 years, 11 months ago

I will bet my last dollar that the politicians will use this agency for nefarious means. Any Bahamian who trusts a Bahamian politician is an idiot. These big fish in our little pond are evil and not worthy of their positions.

proudloudandfnm 8 years, 11 months ago

We should demand the FNM recall this immediately when they take office in 2017.....

realfreethinker 8 years, 11 months ago

Now can you appreciate why crime is out of hand. We have an out of control government operating an illegal agency tasked with helping to prevent and detect crime. " GO FIGURE"

proudloudandfnm 8 years, 11 months ago

I doubt they were doing anything to deter or curb crime. They've probably been spying on the FNM and the DNA to dig up stuff for the PLP's election campaign.....

asiseeit 8 years, 11 months ago

That is exactly what it will be used for. These slime we call politicians are not trustworthy and will use this agency for nefarious means, mark my words!

ThisIsOurs 8 years, 11 months ago

"Because of the draconian nature of a National Intelligence Agency we want to ensure we do it right,” Mr Bell said at the time ..... to ensure that the act is fair and transparent and what we envision for the country comes to fruition"

When was the last time you heard some mention "draconian measures" coexisting with "fair and transparent" . This NSA sounds worrisome, exactly what are they requesting permission to do? I don't even think the CIA would describe themselves as "draconian"

It really worries me the way legislation is handled. I doubt as much as 10% of the persons who vote yes (or no) actually read or understand what they are voting on. More than likely they vote on a narrative they have been sold in some presentation. It means the drafter or the person behind the drafting has unlimited powers because nobody checks them. Yes men are dangerous

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