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Computer Bill only designed to protect corruption - Rajah A. Smith

- meeting to be held at Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre today
Talk show hosts Edmund G. Maduro (right) and Rajah A. Smith have organised a meeting to be held at the Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre in Sea Cows Bay at 3PM today, March 14, 2014 in hopes of adding to the debate surrounding the government proposed Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, 2013. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Talk show hosts Edmund G. Maduro and Rajah A. Smith have organised a meeting to be held at the Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre in Sea Cows Bay at 3PM today, March 14, 2014 in hopes of adding to the debate surrounding the government proposed Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, 2013.

The Act was scheduled to receive its second and third readings in the House of Assembly yesterday, March 13, 2014 and was later sent to committee stage for further review.

Several detractors have indicated that the Act is designed to stifle press freedom within the Territory, particularly within the online media fraternity.

On the EGM radio show aired last evening on ZRod FM, Smith contended that if the New York Times or Wall Street Journal, both United States (US) publications, were to publish articles that subjected them to prosecution, the US would not extradite anyone to the Virgin Islands for trial simply because the proposed law is considered unconstitutional by persons in that jurisdiction.

He added that the bill was designed to protect secrecy, corruption and to silence the press, “you’re trying to penalise [locals], in my opinion this bill makes no sense,” Smith stated.

According to Smith, the government has not been forthcoming with a lot of information, “everything that is being put out there is being put out there by the press,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Maduro insisted that the proposed law is unconstitutional and said freedom of expression should not be limited in anyway. He further noted that the only time that the freedom of the press can be controlled was when it came to the overall general security of the entire population. 

He said these measures were already in place in the constitution and felt there was no need for any new law in this area.

14 Responses to “Computer Bill only designed to protect corruption - Rajah A. Smith”

  • ta ta (14/03/2014, 08:34) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    oh yea you all are on to someting
  • ready committee (14/03/2014, 10:15) Like (8) Dislike (7) Reply
    we voting for rajah all the way boss
  • yada yada (14/03/2014, 10:30) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Small island minded peple cant think or understand global.
    The majority of these people can never understand this hitech
    world.
  • bvi (14/03/2014, 11:44) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    DOOMS day for the BVI, COMMUNISM HAS TAKEN OVER IN FULL.
  • lets go back and do this ting (14/03/2014, 12:48) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    hope they prcecute mark for having that biwater letter from uncle office on his ipad in 2011
  • tgfdgrft (14/03/2014, 14:03) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Edmund always chatting foolishness. And to think that he actually want to contest the next election. Edmund take by advice and save your money. You time has long passed. SMH. People really take politics for a joke. Next you'll hear cats, rats, and chickens declaring their candidacy for the next general election.
  • farmer brown (14/03/2014, 18:34) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Run rajah run
  • wize up (15/03/2014, 02:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    be real young man; there is curruption in the NDP & VIP; how can one forget that airport project !!!!!!! NDP/VIP same thing !!!! yes i said it, NOW you run go talk it
  • new faces needed (15/03/2014, 17:57) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope that we get 13 new politians come next election
  • biwater letter (20/03/2014, 03:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The party of Mark Vanterpool pontificating about spying?

    It is to laugh ...


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