Opposition Leader of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar stated that the Whistleblower Protection Bill, 2022, is a ‘bad law’ that will be struck down the by courts said.
During the debate of the bill at the Parliament sitting at the Red House, Port of Spain, the former prime minister argued that the bill breaches a citizen’s fundamental right to seek redress from the court in the event that a whistleblower provides false information against them.
Persad-Bissessar noted that Chief Parliamentary Counsel Ian Macintyre, SC, was very ‘brave’ in providing his opinion about the constitutionality of the bill and the rights being breached.
She noted in referring to Clause 17.1 (now clause 18 and 19), Macintyre stated this clause was not reasonably justifiable in a democratic country and may be struck down by the courts under section 13.1 of the Constitution.
Persad-Bissessar said 13.1 states that a law passed with a special majority could be struck down in the court if it is found that it is not reasonably justifiable. She said taking away a person’s access to the court is not justified.
‘This is bad law; this is very bad law, the fundamental rule of law principles are being breached with this bill,’ she said.
Persad-Bissessar explained that the effect of Clause 18 and 19 of the bill is to prevent any person with a possible cause of action against the whistleblower from being able to have access to a court.
Clause 18 states a person who makes a disclosure of improper...
Jake Tapper said that CNN would continue to report the news ‘no matter how many lies this administration or the Iranians tell’ Bookmark popover Your support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSuppo...