Minister of state in the Ministry of National Security Senator Pearnel Charles Jr says the Government will seek to complete the debate on the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) Bill when the Senate resumes next week.

Senator Charles urged the Senate to suspend further discussion on the long-anticipated anti-crime measure yesterday, following several criticisms raised by Opposition senators about the wide coverage of crimes expected from the agency.

Opposition Senator K D Knight ridiculed the Bill, at one stage, stating that, while he supports the concept, it does not focus on major crimes as he thought it would have.

Senator Knight said that he was disappointed that so many issues which were not considered major crime and corruption matters had been included in its agenda, including tendering counterfeit coins and setting fire to crops or trash.

“I thought that the major organised crime and anti-corruption agency was going to deal with major organised crimes and major corruption activities. That’s what I thought. I am not sure that I am seeing that reflected in the Bill,” Knight said.

“If we are going to create this agency, there has to be a focus, and the focus must be on major organised crime and corruption,” he added.

Senator Charles said that he will be meeting with the technical staff in his ministry to seek clarification on the issues raised by the Opposition, and would make amendments, if necessary, when the Senate resumes next Friday to complete the process.

The MOCA Bill, a key aspect of the Government’s anti-crime efforts, was passed in the House of Representatives at the end of January. It seeks to transform the agency into an elite law-enforcement investigative body, operating autonomously of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

— Balford Henry