By Gerrino J. Saunders
Journal Staff Writer

The Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe said the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA) Amendment Bill 2024 by the Davis
administration has breathed new life into the agency which is an
important arm of national security.
Some of the major changes to the Bill include a change in name from
the National Crime Intelligence Agency (NCIA) to the NIA removing
the word crime because the agency covers more than criminal activity.
The amendments will also provide for the introduction of a NIA
Commissioner that is expected to improve internal operations, career
paths and collaboration with other government agencies.
Led by Free National Movement (FNM) party leader Michael Pintard
the Opposition members expressed some concerns but went on to
support the amendments.
Mr. Pintard said, “we agree on the importance to collect, to analyze
and to utilize intelligence to address the issue of terrorism, other
potential calamities that could befall a country if we are not properly
armed with the information to anticipate things working against the
sovereignty and security of our country.”

“We support that kind of action, and the variety of actions that would
allow us to accomplish this. We have become too violent as a
country,” he said.
However, Mr. Pintard accused Prime Minister Philip Davis and his
administration for being hypocritical as they opposed what he said is
basically the very same bill that was presented by the Minnis
administration in 2019.
He said, the Prime Minister at the time said he had “very serious
concerns” about the bill including the NCIA taking orders from the
national security minister.
Mr. Pintard also reminded that Mr. Davis at the time referred to the
2019 Bill as “dangerous and unconstitutional.”
Mr. Pintard noted that NIA 2024 Amendment Bill changes very little
from the 2019 Bill that Mr. Davis did not support then, but suppports
now.
He said, “Let me remind the public the members of the government
today, when they were in opposition, they opposed the very bill they
have now got today, the very bill. They essentially are passing today
the very bill that they opposed.”
“Madam Speaker,” he said, “the amendments that they are passing
today, do not amend any of the things that the member for Cat Island
said was unconstitutional and was dangerous.”
In defense of his position then and now, Prime Minister Davis
explained that his personal position should not dictate to the
legislative body, saying that he is debating the amendments to the bill
and not the bill in its entirety.
The Prime Minister said, “my view of the bill was in the context of the
discussion to pass the bill. The bill has now been passed. It is now law.
I’m not going to be troubled by whether to amend the bill to make it
suit my views. That’s not what parliamentarians are about.”

As for his 2019 comments that the Bill was unconstitutional Mr. Davis
said there are a lot of bills that have been passed in the House of
Assembly that he did not agree with, and asked why should he impose
his views on the country.
He said, “I am a consensus builder. I am a collective and the collective
view was that the bill passed. Having been passed, my view was
rejected by Parliament then. They said it was constitutional. I, as a
democrat, have indicated that I will accept that view.”
The Prime Minister said he rejects any criticism because the
amendments the government is implementing now will permit them
to set up the NIA properly by assuring that it is properly staffed and
has the necessary resources so that it can run efficiently and
effectively.