The People’s National Movement hosted a town hall meeting and national conversation in St Joseph, placing three recent pieces of legislation at the centre of a wide-ranging discussion with members of the public.
The panel focused primarily on the Special Operations Bill, amendments to public procurement legislation and the Miscellaneous Provisions Bill dealing with alcohol, cannabis, gambling and tobacco.
Speakers included Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, Senator Dr Margaret Rose, Senator Sanjiv Boodhu, Diego Martin West MP Hans Des Vignes and Laventille West MP Kareem Marcelle.
The Opposition representatives used the forum to explain their objections to provisions contained in the legislation and repeatedly argued that greater public consultation should have taken place before the measures were brought before Parliament.
Members of the audience were later invited to question the panel about policing powers, employment, youth, religious practices, agriculture, presidential assent and the potential effects of the legislation on communities.
The PNM described the meeting as part of an effort to educate citizens about the measures while allowing members of the public to raise concerns directly with parliamentarians.