How Minnis Intended 2-Month Emergency Order Extension, But Seems to Have Changed Mind
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Prime Minister Hubert Minnis wanted to extend the emergency order by two months when the proclamation expires on November 30th.
CSJ Report understands that Minnis as the competent authority intended to continue the state of emergency order to January, but faced opposition from a few Cabinet ministers.
When Minnis presented the fixed plan to ministers, he expected them to come in agreement but an outspoken minister told him he could not consent.
Why it matters
The emergency order expires on November 30th, after the country was placed under nearly eight months of the emergency order. Minnis gave notice in the House of Assembly on Wednesday that once the order expires this month, he intends to extend the order to December 28th, an indication that he had changed his mind.
The big picture
As COVID-19 cases rose in the country, Governor-General C.A Smith declared a state of emergency in March. The order was initially set to expire on June 29.
Attorney General Carl Bethel said the proclamations “ensure public health.”
The order faces opposition
- Attorney Wayne Munroe is a known opposer of the emergency order, threatening to file a lawsuit against the government.
- Attorney Damien Gomez says he will join that lawsuit if the emergency order is extended beyond January.
- He says, “My view of it is, firstly, you should only use states of emergency sparingly. Doing it repeatedly undermines the perception of the country as a country governed by laws and freedoms.”
