“Nonsense!” PPP takes Speaker to task for “limited” questions on Budget

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Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland

By Jomo Paul

Former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee
Former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Quick action by Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland resolved an issue that had the potential to expand after People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Parliamentarian, Clement Rohee was accused of making comment that borders on contempt of Parliament.

Rohee had risen to his feet as he protested the limiting of questions being posed to the APNU+AFC government by the Speaker. According to Rohee, he noticed that the Speaker was limiting the questions from the Opposition domain to three on each line item and this should not be.

The PPP General Secretary sprang to his feet and shouted “nonsense! nonsense!” much to the surprise of other members of the National Assembly.

Thereafter, Attorney General Basil Williams referred to the Standing Orders of Parliament and stated that Rohee’s comment “borders on contempt of parliament.”

He also pointed out that Rohee is also attacking the integrity of the Speaker. When Dr Scotland regained controlled of the House, he made it clear that he is not concerned about Members of the House attacking his integrity.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland
Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland

He pointed out that contrary to what Rohee was claiming; PPP members have been allowed to ask more than three questions on items in the Budget.

He indicated that one member stood up to asked eight questions on an item and sometimes it is not until he moves to put the item to a vote that Opposition parliamentarians decide that they have a question to ask.

“Lets us be reasonable; let us not get carried away,” said Dr Scotland. The Speaker reminded the Parliamentarians that he has been rather lenient.

Meanwhile, Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman told the House that the time and days set for discussions on the estimates were set during a meeting of the House’s Business Committee; however this was debunked by the other side, with Dharamkumar Seeraj stating that the Opposition did not vote for the time and days set.

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6 COMMENTS

  1. Oh shut up and take a back seat clauseston messiah.

    This opposition has a right to hold the house accountable regardless if it’s the speaker or not.

    What did Hoyte,Corbin & Granger did while they were in opposition. If you need a reminder many of us can write a book for you.

  2. The PNC controlled government is behaving like a dictator in trying to muzzle criticism of the budget. First they restricted it to three days then under pressure they extended the hours. Now they’re preventing the opposition from mounting a comprehensive criticism.

    Transparency went out the window.In the meantime Granger is making secret overseas trips and Naga has a new $24M vehicle. What a dusgrace!

  3. All these ass holes want to do is to be obstructionist and cause as much distraction as possibly while disrupting the business of the house
    That is their entire agenda. Disruption. The little boy with his ball I cant bat im leaving etc etc etc.

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