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Senate Act Gives ONCDP Added Powers

Under the control of the Cabinet Antigua St John's - The Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) has had its list of responsibilities expanded following the passage of a bill in the Senate on Wednesday, June 20, 2012.

The upper house approved the bill that allows the ONDCP to deal with issues of trafficking in persons, illegal firearms and human smuggling.

Senator Malaka Parker admitted that the changes are late, but are indeed necessary to the vision and mission of the ONDCP. She described the move as timely, considering the many “lists”  that Antigua & Barbuda manages to find itself on.

“Any move to strengthen an arm of government to effectively police these sorts of activities and manage the fallout when and if they do occur is indeed welcomed,” Senator Parker said.

Among the questions arising from the debate on the subject is whether or not the move to amplify the body’s responsibilities would override the duties of the police and ultimately stretch the unit’s resources so thin that it reduces its effectiveness.

Senator Gail Christian asked whether or not the ONDCP, when it is called into play, would have the authority to relieve other law enforcement agencies of duties that seem to impinge on its expanded scope of operation.



“The legislation gives them (purview) over financial crimes, yet the police (force) I know has its own financial crime unit. So how do they work harmoniously? And that is a concern that I have,” she questioned.

According to the principal act, the ONDCP must liaise with the police but it does not say whether it must liaise in an information giving or an information receiving capacity.

Senator Lennox Weston posited that the bill seems to give the ONDCP boss Lt. Col. Edward Croft unlimited power, since it does not speak to any issue of responsibility, limitations and qualifications. And he believes that with a structure like that, or lack thereof, the added responsibilities provided through the bill are undoubtedly a recipe for disaster.

“We are developing a police state that is politically directed. And they are now specializing in areas that all of us can be deemed suspicious at any one time or the other,” Senator Weston said.

The ONDCP is under the control of the Cabinet of Antigua & Barbuda.

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8 Comments In This Article   

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RE: Senate Act Gives ONCDP Added Powers

#8 Eric » 2012-06-22 10:14

Are some people worried that the net is closing on them???????
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Eric

...Senate Act...

#7 Jumbee Picknee » 2012-06-21 15:53

Greetings, there are several things which come to mind as another law enforcement agency is given more authority by the legislature. The first is, why aren't the present law enforcement agencies such as Immigration, Customs, Police, Defence Force made to perform according to the laws which they are sworn to upheld? This tells me, that either they are incapable or unwilling to perform their duties, and in either case, why are those responsible held accountable for their actions (WISHFULL THINKING). The next question I have, is who polices the ONCDP, the Legislature? The one and the same which can pass laws at their own descretion and in many instances without the consultation of those they represent (the Citizens, denizens). This always amazes me, as to how "the client" (Citizens) are never consulted by "their counsel" (the Parliament) regarding important issues which have profound meaning and consequences on their lives. I see body's like ONCDP somewhat like Hitler's Gestapo, America's CIA/FBI, Israeli mossad, you get the gist, very secretive and deadly,
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Jumbee Picknee

@ Tenman - It is all Transactional!

#6 John French II » 2012-06-21 15:24

Notes From A Native Son Of Rock. The People Voted. They Elected their MP's. The Winner of The First Past The Post Formed The GoAB. To the Victors The Spoils.
The Leader found His MP's Wanting. Enter the Unelected Senators. They **ressed The GoAB. Their Educational Certificates were Prized. Their Thoughts & Actions failed to convince a "bewildered & bemused electorate".
In a "small place" rather than using Transformation to bring about efficiency and effective structures, systems & skills, Transactions are used to Create Empires & Bamboozle an unsuspecting electorate - "Pay Attention!" to the Uncut Oracle - that progress is being made while the existing Education, Police, Public Works and other Bureaucracies contine the downward trajectory of failure. The "Patricians" & "Equestrians" forever petrified by the "Barbarians" welcome this move since they have no Strategic Plan For the Police. They do not comprehend that without Education Success, it will be "up the down staircase". 66% failure rate for those wishing to become Policemen.
Your Validation of Redesigning & Restructuring is too much work for Electoral Politics & Carnival Masquerades. Much Respect!
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John French II

RE: Senate Act Gives ONCDP Added Powers

#5 Johnny » 2012-06-21 10:34

Croft, ironically a ALP supporter, has been given expanded powers under this UPP government. Interesting.
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Johnny

@ Tenman

#4 Dessalines » 2012-06-21 10:06

I agree with the point that we need controls in place. However we have to be pragmatic and understand that the police are either unwilling or unable to police the police. The office of the ONDCP was created initially due to the lack of confidence in the police force because of the **ed cops in cohorts with criminals mainly involved in drugs.
Now they have added human trafficking/smu ggling to the list, another area where the police are seen to be lax or even complicit with the perpetrators. All the strip clubs now have police officers moonlighting as security guards.
If the ONDCP can be more effective than the police in fighting crime then let them have a shot at it.
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Dessalines

controls

#3 tenman » 2012-06-21 07:19

When I first heard of this act about two weeks ago, I wondered about the controls. Its a bad idea to use something designed for one thing, and have it do something else. This is akin to taking a house designed to be one story and adding another level to it. The real issue is we have no proper design when it comes to crime and its time for us to do a proper re-design. This re-design must include a situation like Jamaica where an independent outside agency deals with police complains (The Independent Commission of Investigations) . When it comes to money laundering, investigations should be done by a unit inside the police force. The ONDCP should simply be about making suggestions on policy

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tenman

RE: Senate Act Gives ONCDP Added Powers

#2 Pellucid » 2012-06-21 04:54

So will these tools be authorized to release the FSRC report, or is this just another reshuffling of the deck chairs on the HMS Antigua?
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Pellucid

RE: Senate Act Gives ONCDP Added Powers

#1 Pellucid » 2012-06-21 04:26

How about giving somebody the authority to deal with theft. Specifically theft several times the GDP of an insignificant kicked-out of the UK country (let's set the threshold low, like one billion US$)

An honest government would have to indict Lester Bird, Errol Cort and Baldwin Spencer (Not Allegedly, these people should be indicted and tried in a REAL country) .

Too bad that Antigua was based on the principal of "Each Embezzling, All A' Theiving" !
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Pellucid

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