WITHIN HOURS THE CONTROVERSIAL STATE OF EMERGENCY WILL COME TO AN END, AND GOVERNMENT IS ASSURING THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME WILL REMAIN VIGILANT.

YESTERDAY, PRIME MINISTER KAMLA PERSAD BISESSAR SAID, THE ZONES OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS BILL HAS BEEN TABLED IN THE LOWER HOUSE BY, ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN JEREMIE.

IN A STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY, MRS. PERSAD-BISSESSAR SAID, THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL ESTABLISH A PERMANENT LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR, TARGETED OPERATIONS AGAINST VIOLENT CRIME, GANGS, ILLEGAL WEAPONS AND THE CRIMINAL NETWORKS THAT FINANCE THEM.

ACCORDING TO THE PRIME MINISTER, CERTAIN PROTOCOLS WILL APPLY TO THIS INITIATIVE.

SHE SOUGHT TO HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO, PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION PENELOPE BECKLES, POSED A QUESTION TO THE PRIME MINISTER.

MRS. PERSAD BISSESSAR FIRED BACK.

THE MAIN OPPOSITION, PEOPLE’S NATIONAL MOVEMENT HAS ALREADY INDICATED THAT IT WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE CONTROVERSIAL CRIME-FIGHTING MEASURE, THAT FAILED IN THE SENATE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE PREVIOUS BILL HAD FACED CRITICISM OVER HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS, AND SAFEGUARDS SURROUNDING THE PROPOSED POWERS.

UNDER THE BILL, THE PRIME MINISTER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DESIGNATE COMMUNITIES AS ZONES OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS, WITH JOINT POLICE AND DEFENCE FORCE OPERATIONS PERMITTED WITHIN THOSE AREAS.