President Anthony Carmona yesterday assented to the Strategic Services Amendment Act (SSA).
The legislation seeks to give the SSA a wider mandate to investigate people suspected of involvement in crimes, including acts of treason, money laundering, sedition, terrorism, terrorist financing and corruption.
It provides for the interception of calls by the Director of the SSA, Commissioner of Police and the Defence Force under specific conditions.
The legislation is now expected to be proclaimed by the President on the advice of the Cabinet.
In a release issued yesterday, Carmona said: “In every bill to be assented, there is always a need or cause for pause.”
He said the “assenting to bills can neither be pre-emptive on instanter,” adding that it is “often dependent upon His Excellency’s consultation and receipt of legal advice.”
The statement added that in future, assenting to bills “will continue to be for His Excellency’s consultation, a process of constitutional and legal reflection, analysis and determination vis-a-vis his duties and responsibilities pursuant to Section 61(2) of the Constitution of T&T.”
According to the statement, Section 61(2) states: “When a bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall signify that he assents or withholds his assent.”
The statement said the SSA legislation engaged Carmona’s remit “with the highest regard to the national security interests and democratic well-being of our republic.”
“The President has paid careful heed and acknowledges the impressive jurisprudential arguments in and out of Parliament by the public at large,” the statement said.
It said consideration was also given to arguments concerning privacy and fundamental rights.
“His Excellency assures that our republic’s safety, the security of its citizens and our fundamental rights and freedoms are of paramount importance to him always,” the statement said.
“It is therefore expected that the operation of the Strategic Services Agency (Amendment) Act will be engaged meaningfully and justly with respect to the rule of law, due process and the Constitution.”
Carmona reportedly gave careful consideration to the views inside and outside the Parliament before assenting to the legislation which he received on May 16.
The Opposition voted against the measure in the Senate three weeks ago and the Government secured passage of the measure with the support of two Independent Senators, Ian Roach and former temporary Senator Justin Junkere.
The support came after Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi arranged a meeting with Opposition and Independent Senators to clarify concerns they had over the measure.
The UNC has, however, already indicated the legislation would be challenged in court and has filed a motion calling on the Senate to express its loss of confidence in Al-Rawi.
Al-Rawi was unavailable for comment when the T&T Guardian attempted to contact him yesterday.