From information gathered from various news media, it seems that not a single person in T&T appreciates the real far reaching effects of the Defence Force amendment legislation, another panic act by the government and supported by business organisations.
First, almost every person in authority makes reference to "soldiers" in the debate. This is so deliberately misleading to the population that one would forget that the Defence Force comprises not only soldiers (Army) but also the Coast Guard, Air Guard, reserves/volunteers and cadets. It stands to reason, therefore, that any reserve/volunteer will automatically, by law, get powers of arrest! The bill will also embrace any cadet, be he or she a mere 13-year-old.
Anyone who knows how some Trinbagonians-in-uniform with powers of arrest behave will not be surprised when some 58-year-old cadet locks up some 18-year-old youth for a bad drive or littering or abusive language etc. It is also likely that some 16-year-old cadet will lock up someone in his area who fails to kow-tow to him.
If the unions, civil society groups, religious leaders, NGOs, sporting organisations, professional bodies, etc let this piece of legislation pass without proper and rigid checks and balances written into the law, then T&T is certainly on the road to perdition.Here are some questions to which there are no provisions made for answers:
1) How will a member of the public know which member of the Defence Force has powers of arrest? By special uniform? Identification card? Or word of mouth?
2) Will civil law or military law govern the actions of Defence Force personnel while they are on the job of policing? If not military law and military regulations, then they will be as civilians because of not having taken the oath and been gazetted, etc to be as police officers!
3) Will the Police Social and Welfare Association be able to represent Defence Force personnel while they are on police duties? (It is contrary to good order and discipline to have unions in the Defence Force.)
4) What will be the rate of pay for Defence Force personnel on police duties? Will they rate a special allowance, of say $2000 per month? (to include additional skills, overtime, etc?)
5) Will Defence Force personnel volunteer to be trained as police officers? Or will they be ordered so to do? Or will they just be ordered to volunteer?
All in all, this is bad legislation, and I am surprised that with so many silks in Parliament, no one bothers with the legal challenges that are bound to arise.
Marsood Khan
Dabadie