Opposition Leader Perry Christie said: "We abstained because we support all of the provisions of the bill save and except the bill's clause 7, which seeks to limit the term of the commissioner of police and the deputy commissioner of police to two five-year terms.
"We believe that provision is unconstitutional. We attempted in committee to delete it from the bill, but the government refused to budge."
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said he does not think it should be possible to appoint someone that cannot be removed for 20 years.
Ingraham said under Bahamian law a person with the power to appoint also has the power to decide the length of the appointment.
The Prime Minister said that a person may serve as Commissioner for more than 10 years but not consecutively.
Despite the PLP MP's decision not to vote, an FNM majority meant the bill was passed and is now before the Senate.
-Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here
1 comments:
I think 10 consecutive years is reasonable.