Law

St. Kitts Legislation to tighten anti-terrorist law goes to parliament

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis moves to further tighten the Federation’s anti-terrorist legislation when the National Assembly meets on Tuesday 21st October.

Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas will seek parliamentary approval to ensure that certain requirements in the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002 are observed.

Under Section 17 (1), a person was expected to report a belief or suspicion that another person had committed a terrorist financing offence.

It is felt that this requirement placed too great of a burden upon an average service provider or business professional. It was sufficient that the person had a suspicion or belief that the funds in question were in some way related to the financing of terrorism.

Clause 3 of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill, therefore seeks to clarify that position by lowering the onus on someone who was not intended to determine whether an offence had been committed or not, but only to report a suspicions transaction.

Clause 4 of the Bill criminalises the action of the person who deliberately seeks to sabotage an on-going investigation into a terrorist offence by divulging critical information to third parties.

A person convicted of such an offence will be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding EC$100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years.

The Bill is the only business on the Order Paper for Tuesday’s sitting of the National Assembly which begins at 11 A.M. (CUOPM)

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