Deputy Prime Minister and Security Minister Dr Horace Chang has instructed that an investigation be carried out into the incorrect tabling of the Regulations for the State of Public Emergency declared in the parish of St Catherine on Friday, June 17, 2022.

The wrong regulation was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

“I wish to reassure the country that the correct Regulations, which are in keeping with the recent Court ruling, will be tabled in the House today, Thursday, June 23, 2022, and in the Senate tomorrow, Friday, June 24, 2022.”

He added: “In keeping with our responsibilities, Parliamentarians are on call to ensure legislation is passed in fulfillment of our national duties.”

Members of parliament have been summoned to attend a meeting of the Lower House today at 2 pm for the tabling of the Emergency Powers (Parish of St Catherine) (No.3) Regulations, 2022, which will revoke the Emergency Powers (Parish of St Catherine) (No.2) Regulations, 2022.

Last Friday, the Constitutional Court has awarded nearly $18 million in damages to Roshaine Clarke, the St James taxi operator who it found was unlawfully detained for seven months under the state of emergency (SOE) that was declared for the western parish in January 2018.

The Court found and held that Clarke’s fundamental rights and freedoms under the Constitution, in particular his right to freedom and liberty, his right to be informed of the reason for his detention as soon as is reasonably practicable and his right to be brought forthwith, or as soon as is reasonably practicably before an officer authorised by law or a Court had been violated and that he was entitled to damages as redress for these violations.

READ: St James cabbie awarded nearly $18 million in SOE detention suit