Status of Children Bill delayed

The process of enacting the Status of Children Bill of 2010 into law was further delayed at last Tuesday’s sitting of the House.{{more}}

The Bill, which seeks to provide for equal rights of children, had its first reading on August 30, and was expected to be in the final stages at this point.

It, however, only received its second reading Tuesday, November 9, because due to insufficient input, particularly from the local Bar Association, Leader of the House, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said.

Prior to the prorogation of the House, the Bill was supposed to go to a select committee, which was to have been headed by Mike Browne, Minister of National Mobilisation, Social Development, Gender Affairs etc for further consideration.

Browne said a response had been sent to the Clerk of the House on November 1 from the President of the Bar who had requested a four month extension to review the proposed piece of legislation which would replace the Children’s Act of 1980.

“We were hoping for it (the Bill) to have been passed,” Browne said, adding that the process to replace the earlier Act began back in 2001. (DD)