Attorney Wayne Munroe, QC. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Tribune Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
ATTORNEY Wayne Munroe, QC, has accused the competent authority of “playing games” with Bahamians’ liberty, as he suggested the country could be on the brink of upheaval over the issuance of a new emergency proclamation.
Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Mr Munroe questioned the grounds for which a new proclamation has been issued, adding attorneys are exploring a lawsuit against the government over the continuous restriction of people’s movement.
His comments came the day after Governor General CA Smith issued the new proclamation, his third since the COVID-19 pandemic began earlier this year.
The new proclamation was issued a week after Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis told the House of Assembly he intended to seek Parliament’s approval to extend the country’s state of emergency, which was set to expire on November 30 under a previous proclamation, to December 28.
However, the newest emergency proclamation means a state of emergency can be in place for up to six more months, unless revoked earlier.
“What happens is the Constitution says that the Governor General can make a proclamation of a state of emergency and it has a life of 14 days and then it says Parliament may extend up to six months but nothing requires the Governor General to put that in his proclamation,” Mr Munroe said.
“But stop and think about this, the current regime that they are in means that the state of emergency that we’re currently on could have been extended to the middle of January. We are now coming to the end of November. How do they know what will be the state of affairs by January?
“The competent authority is playing games with people’s liberty. The Bahamian people’s patience is going to run out with them and they will soon learn that 8,000 policemen and soldiers cannot control 400,000 people. They need to stop doing stupidness.
“The bottom line is this: you have a state of affairs that can remain until the middle of January, why oh why are you at the middle of January purporting to say you will need more time than that?
“What is the need for the precipitous declaration now? Haven’t they told us that the rate of infections and hospitalisations are falling? Aren’t the fatalities falling? So what is the emergency?
“He’s going to bring it to a point that people like me are going to tell the public that 8,000 police cannot subjugate 400,000 people.”
Mr Munroe said with the continuance of emergency orders, Bahamians will have no choice but to fight for their rights. “At some point the Bahamian people will have to do what has always been done when tyrants and despots try to take their rights. You sometimes have to resist them.”
Attorney General Carl Bethel told The Tribune on Tuesday night that a new proclamation was issued because the government “wished to avoid debate on a new proclamation in the middle of the Christmas holidays”.
“It would take MPs out of their constituencies for about a week having regards to the need to table in both Houses (of Parliament) and debate the next day.
“The Governor General in his own deliberate judgment decided to make the proclamation. He could have always said no. It was ultimately his decision,” Mr Bethel explained.
Tuesday night, Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis said the opposition party “does not and will not support the new proclamation of emergency issued this evening by the Governor General.”
Mr Davis said in a statement: “We will refuse to allow the matter to be debated... in the House and will not waive the notice requirement.
“The issue of the proclamation is an abuse of power. Civil liberties have been suspended long enough and we say the suspension must end and go no farther.”
The Bahamas has been under a state of emergency since the Governor General first issued a proclamation on March 18, shortly after the country recorded its first COVID-19 case.
That initial proclamation expired on June 29 after the government failed to bring a resolution in time to have it extended.
However, the Governor General swiftly issued a second proclamation.
Last week, former Minister of State for Legal Affairs Damian Gomez, QC, told The Nassau Guardian the government may face litigation if a new proclamation of emergency was issued.
“I think they’ll start to see litigation at that point,” Mr Gomez said.
“My view of it is, firstly, you should only use states of emergency sparingly. Doing it repeatedly undermines the perception of the country as a country governed by laws and freedoms.”
The proclamation is set to be debated in the House of Assembly today.
Comments
GodSpeed 3 years, 12 months ago
When those 8000 police have guns and 400,000 don't it's very easy. No right to bear arms over here.
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 12 months ago
I bet there are a lot more than 8000 illegal guns in Nassau alone.
FrustratedBusinessman 3 years, 12 months ago
The Bahamas is 33rd on this list.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimated…
Topdude 3 years, 12 months ago
Mr. Munroe is inciting the public to act unlawfully and he must be condemned. How can someone whose profession it is to ensure that the law is fair In its application get up on his high horse and urge the public to break the law? This is a disingenuous way to muster clients and an unethical way to put it frankly.
Steps should be taken to seek his sanction before the Bar. Left unaddressed this type of behavior will have damaging consequences to our democracy.
The intent of the Competent Authority is to save lives. Mr. Munroe’s intent is to cost lives. Speaking about revolt and upheaval is tantamount to fanning the flames of political and public rebellion. Shame on him. He should seek political office from which to spread his claptrap. Shame on him. Shame, shame.
joeblow 3 years, 12 months ago
... I guess the liberty of citizens and the constitutionality of the incompetent authoritarians executive orders are not worthy of consideration?
If Minnis the dimwit was concerned in the least about saving lives he would have learnt something by now from countries with far lower rates of infection and deaths with much larger populations. We would have already had mass testing etc. This is not about saving lives, but controlling the population! The man is drunk on power!
benniesun 3 years, 12 months ago
Be wary of any person who incites, because we do not know that person's agenda or whether the person is an agent. Riling the population and putting forth contentious debate are ways to engage and distract from what is truly taking place. The Bahamas is a member of the UN and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, and any policing help we need would speedily be given by foreign armed (peacekeeping-policing) forces. Lockdowns are worldwide and are part of a greater agenda.
GodSpeed 3 years, 12 months ago
lol the only time the UN will be coming over here it to put a boot up your rear. You actually believe they exist to help you?
benniesun 3 years, 12 months ago
comprehension: noun 1. an ability to understand the meaning or importance of something
BahamaPundit 3 years, 12 months ago
I think free speech is important. The key consideration is that The Bahamas Police must train and prepare NOW for civil unrest and how to humanely prevent mob rule, should it occur in the next year due to pandemic hardships. This is a wake up call!
mandela 3 years, 12 months ago
Freedom of speech, AMEN. We may be under emergency orders beyond 2022.
DDK 3 years, 12 months ago
8000 armed police? Wow Minnis is sure acting like a militaty ruler. Problem is he has no brains. He is playing with fire and needs to go back to obgyn stuff before he destroys what is left of our democratic Bahamas. On second thought, only an idiot mother to be would put her life or that of her unborn child into the hands of this hitler-like quack?
thephoenix562 3 years, 12 months ago
We don't have 8000 Police it's around 3000 .check the website.Monroe is a joke
John 3 years, 12 months ago
Why is Munroe’s trying to incite an insurrection? Just look to the North and see what happens when you cannot get citizens to comply. Look to Europe and see the battle they are facing. Iraq is having record deaths and the Covid-19 virus is rearing its deadly head again and only fir strict management was it able to be brought back under control. Look at this country’s own obituaries that has mushroomed since the appearance on the covid-19 virus. How many have died from undiagnosed cases of this virus? Hopefully the numbers of cases are decreasing for good this time and in a few months the Bahamas can declare itself sustainably corona free!
moncurcool 3 years, 12 months ago
Monroe's statement clearly shows what he thinks of the intelligence of Bahamians.
Symonetty 3 years, 12 months ago
Mr Munroe please don't waste ya time with these people they have no backbone in their spine, only thing ga make them rise up is when this dollar get devalued,n it takes $50- $100 to make 1 us dollar n to put it bluntly Bahamian people are full of💩 n loves to put up with ,💩
TigerB 3 years, 12 months ago
Agreed Pheonix, and I might add, 300 tired police...
happyfly 3 years, 12 months ago
At least somebody is pushing back on the emergency orders. It is beyond outrage what the PM has done to trash our constitutional rights and abuse his authority to serve the people - and every day that a person like this retains unbridled power is a risk to all of us
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