…Leader of Government Business agrees, but still passes bill

Godwin Hulse

In responding to Shoman’s concerns, Leader of Government Business Godwin Hulse, echoed a similar sentiment, particularly where it pertains to laws that will inevitably have to be revisited.  Nonetheless, he proceeded with the second reading of the bill.

Godwin Hulse, Leader of Government Business

“When you make laws without an out; that in fact, can create an avenue for mischief on the part of others, one; and two, for inadvertent, very innocent non-compliance, you have a difficulty. One that has come to mind is the amendment to the law that when there is a judgment, even expatiated that you may not be aware of and you do not comply, there is a serious penalty. And granted ignorance is no excuse, but I am sure that every one of us at some time, if we have not been, will be guilty of ignorance of some piece of legislation that has been passed. We don’t live in the kind of legal world that we dedicate ourselves to that. And while I respect the appeal, I will ask that we move forward with the note that I have made that down the road, we will in fact—the government will in fact, revisit some of these. The prime minister has made this clear that in fact we recognize that these will have to be revisited. There is a gun to our head and a dynamite right now perhaps from the international committee. But we are not big enough I guess to say damn the torpedoes at this stage so we have to try to dodge them and hope that our compliance gives us that ability and that effort that at some time we may be able to amend in accordance that what we think is right and just and fair to our people. I move the second reading.”