Not only is there a moral obligation on all of the parties to participate in sharing their perspectives on the legislative measures tabled for first reading last Thursday by the Attorney General and the Minister of Home Affairs.

The civil society organisations involved in promoting joint consultations with the government and opposition parties, would also be expected to be in the parliament chamber for the debate on what is viewed as some of the most significant pieces of legislation to deal with fundamental national social issues.

Now is not the time for elected representatives of the people to seek to score political points of questionable value outside of the National Assembly; to engage in language of abuse and threats, or to substitute press conferences and press releases for participation in the highest forum in the land.

This is the time when all ideas should flow freely in vigorous debates on the appropriateness, or otherwise, of the package of legislation tabled, including one on racial hostility and another to deal with acts of terrorism.

Indication of the legislative measures, as tabled in the Assembly on Thursday, was first given by Attorney General Doodnauth Singh some seven weeks ago when he spoke to the media following a special cabinet meeting that discussed the urgent necessity of fast-tracking such legislation.

The Four Bills
While, officially, the parliament is in recess, last Thursday's special sitting was arranged in order to facilitate presentation of the four pieces of legislation in view of the gravity of the crime situation and the race hate being generated.

The four legislative measures for debate are: Criminal Law (Offences) Amendment Bill 2002; Prevention of Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2002; Racial Hostility (Amendment) Bill 2002; and Evidence (Amendment) Bill 2002.

Representatives of minority parliamentary parties had raised the issue of not having been given adequate time to peruse the relevant bills for debate. In an effort to give all parties reasonable time to consider the package of legislation, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Reepu Daman Persaud, has disclosed that instead of meeting tomorrow, as originally scheduled, the House of Assembly will now meet on Thursday instead.

It is now to be hoped that, in this spirit to ensure maximum participation, all parliamentarians, armed with the package of legislation, will make a conscientious effort to ensure passage of the bills with inputs that could make them even more effective in attaining the objectives outlined.