THE government said yesterday that it was willing to have further discussion on the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill, following concerns expressed by Opposition Leader Edward Seaga on Sunday, but made it clear that it would be pushing for its implementation.

“We are open to more dialogue but we intend to ensure that acceptable legislation is passed in Parliament,” the information minister, Burchell Whiteman, told reporters at yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. He said the matter received some attention at Cabinet.

Seaga, addressing Sunday’s public session of the 60th annual conference of his Jamaica Labour Party, vowed to fight the proposed legislation, in its present form, to the bitter end, arguing that it would give the government much the same power as that of a state of emergency.

Seaga said the JLP would support any legislation or policy designed to curb crime “but we will not support the state arrogating to itself powers to terrorise the people”.

Government last month tabled a sweeping bill aimed at codifying Jamaica’s obligations under a raft of international treaties, and imposing harsh penalties, including death and life imprisonment for acts deemed terrorist activities.

Under the proposed legislation, a person could be deemed to have committed a terrorist offence if he commits acts of violence against ships or aircraft; the setting off of explosives in public places or against government facilities; and the injuring or kidnapping of internationally-protected persons such as diplomats and heads of state, especially for political, religious or ideological objectives.

Seaga said, however, that the definitions of the proposed bill were too wide and could undermine freedoms.

Meanwhile, Cabinet yesterday gave its approval for the tabling of a bill entitled “The Nursing Homes Registration (Amendment) Act”.

The legislation is aimed at amending the Nursing Homes Registration Act in order to:

* increase the registration fee for the operation of nursing homes, and provide that the amount payable be based on the bed capacity of each nursing home;

* provide for biennial registration of nursing homes;

* provide for the compulsory inspection of nursing homes for the purpose of registration or renewal of registration, and the issue of a certificate of inspection; and

* increase the penalties for breaches of the Act to more realistic levels

Whiteman also announced that the Cabinet had approved $140 million for special employment programmes to be completed by mid-December this year.

He said development minister, Paul Robertson, would give further information on the programme in Parliament today.