PNP taking NIDS fight to court
Published:Monday | February 19, 2018 | 12:00 AM
Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips says the People’s National Party (PNP) has not given up its fight against the National Identifications Registration Act (NIDS), confirming the matter is to be taken to court.
The PNP had indicated that it was contemplating going to court after the law was passed in the absence of opposition members in the House of Representatives last November.
On November 21, the parliamentary opposition did not return to the sitting after a 20-minute break, which extended beyond an hour.
The bill was approved in their absence despite an earlier statement from Prime Minister Andrew Holness that the bill would have been taken at a later date.
Speaking at a PNP meeting last night in Clarendon, Phillips said the opposition was not prepared to leave the matter unresolved.
Opposition leader and PNP president Dr Peter Phillips
The opposition has described the law as flawed, noting that the Senate had to make 168 amendments to the document.
They have also opposed the section of the act imposing a fine for persons who do not enroll and one requiring the national identification for accessing government services.
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