Rights issues raised on new legislation

By SAMUEL BARIASI
POLICE Minister Bryan Kramer says any person whose rights are abused under the National Pandemic Act 2020 can go before the court and have their rights protected.
He was responding to concerns raised by East Sepik Governor Allan Bird, that the act would suppress people’s rights.
“The issue here is that we currently have 351 people in quarantine and when the state of emergency ends, we have no powers to maintain them in quarantine,” Kramer said.
“If we do not pass this (Bill), these people in quarantine will be free to walk away and put people’s lives at risk.”
Bird said he voted against the (Bill) because his people of East Sepik asked him not to support it.
“I have always been an advocate of our Constitution, civil liberties, strong checks and balances and good governances,” he said.
“This act went against all those principles.”
Bird said legislations should be well-discussed before being passed.
“Under Section 51 of the Act, the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act will be suspended in times of emergency, which is the only thing standing between the (Government) and corruption.”
Kramer responded that the PFM Act had to be suspended so that necessary supplies could be procured quickly during emergencies.
Kramer conceded there were significant gaps in the bill but the Government was more concerned about people’s lives.
“We will debate and remove what does not work between now and the next Parliament sitting,” he said.