DRP calls for repeal of Cybercrimes Act 2016

With the passage last Friday of the Cybercrimes Act 2016, the Democratic Republican Party (DRP) is calling for a repeal of the Act and for SVG to go back to the drawing board to develop a Cybercrimes law which does not “damage fundamental freedoms and at the same time create loopholes for cybercriminals to escape.”

In a release, political leader of the DRP Anesia Baptiste maintained that her continual research on Cybercrimes Laws worldwide reveals that there are serious and fundamental problems with the HIPCAR model law which was the basis of our Cybercrimes Act 2016.{{more}}

According to the release, the DRP believes “that the government’s rush to enact the law, giving limited time and no quality opportunity to have proper public study and scrutiny of the bill, suggests a hidden evil agenda for its use. The parliamentary debates from the governments’ side of the house also reveal efforts to mislead the public about the law in its current form; attempting to sell it as a law which protects children from cyberbullying when rather it will criminalize children for freedom of speech, criminalize the truth and generally breed a thin-skinned society in SVG. This is in addition to the chilling effect on freedom of expression, the press and information, which the revival of usage of the archaic and draconian criminal libel law will have on journalism and whistleblowing.”

According to the release, a DRP led government commits to, among other things repealing the Cybercrimes Act 2016; revision of and passage of “proper Cybercrimes legislation”, following internationally accepted best practice standards; repeal of Criminal Libel provisions from our Criminal Code (Chapter 27 from section 274.)

The DRP says it also “rejects the misleading of Vincentians on the Cybercrimes Act by those who boast years of legal experience such as Parnell Campbell QC, who claims that the Act… is constitutional.”

Baptiste questioned the experience and standing of Parnel Campbell QC, and opined that there were “blatant contradictions” of the Cybercrimes Act with our own Constitution.

Baptiste made harsh criticism of Campbell’s support of the Bill.

The DRP will continue to call for the repeal of the Cybercrimes Act 2016 and for law reform in this Country for the protection of the people’s inalienable rights and freedoms, genuine crime fighting and solving and for Justice for all, the release said.