Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 19, 2020 (SKNIS)
The Government of National Unity has deemed it necessary to extend the State of Emergency as it moves over the next few weeks to have a second reading for the COVID-19 Prevention and Control Bill, 2020, that had its first reading on October 15, 2020, says Attorney General, the Honourable Vincent Byron. The extension of the State of Emergency will not hinder the borders reopening.
The Attorney General was at the time speaking at a Sitting of Parliament on October 15. He said that the Government has found it necessary to keep the State of Emergency in place during the stipulated period.“We find it necessary for the current Statutory Rules and Orders SR&O that is in place covering the regulations under the Emergency Powers Act to be extended during that same period,” he said.
Attorney General Byron stated that it is open to the Parliament to return at any time to revoke the State of Emergency by Resolution once the COVID-19 Prevention and Control Bill, 2020, has passed and “we are satisfied that the measures that it has covered, and the regime that it is intended to establish works to protect all our citizens.”
The Attorney General said that it is understood that there is a concern in the country that while the borders are reopened to allow for economic activity and slowly jumpstart the tourism industry, “this is a way in which we can continue to maintain a measured control.”The extension of the State of Emergency will be for the next two months or more, said the Attorney General, for the National Assembly to be able to have the COVID-19 Prevention and Control Bill, 2020, properly passed into law and implemented.
“It is a stop-gap measure for a short window, and we hope we get full support