The government intends to respect any decision the Supreme Court may wish to make in the petition filed by the ruling administration regarding the composition of the parliamentary committees.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said that government believes that the work of the parliamentary committees should not proceed until such time as the court delivers its decision.
Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira
Late last week, the prime minister disclosed the administration’s intention to withhold participation of all parliamentary committee meetings, in the face of being held in contempt of court, and urged Speaker of the House Raphael Trotman to suspend all such meetings.
“Yes, we would live with the ruling of the court,” the prime minister said. According to him, government wants a balance of parties on the committees reflective of the representation of these parties in Parliament, pursuant to Standing Order Number 94 (1).
With the Peoples’ Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) gaining 49 per cent of the votes; the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) 40 per cent and the Alliance For Change (AFC) 10.7 per cent, Hinds noted that the committees as far as possible must reflect the ratio of the percentage of votes received.
The prime minister added that government has proposed the traditional committees of 10 persons with five for the government, four for the APNU and one for the AFC.
Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira noted that the administration has studied other Commonwealth Countries with minority governments in similar situations.
In her pleadings to the Speaker, Teixeira pointed out that government has presented such examples, both from the Standing Orders of other countries and Erskine Maes, which is the written authority of the Parliament.
“And we are quite concerned that the argument we put forward based on the experiences of other countries in similar position as ourselves, we are on the side of righteousness. We are supported by custom, practices and conventions in a number of cases specific Standing Orders that are similar to ours.”
Teixeira emphasised that the issue is not an academic one, but involves the preservation of the Constitution and the constitutional provision of the country on which the standing rules of Parliament are based.
Questioned on its possible implications on the National Assembly, Teixeira explained that the new dispensation can affect the operation of Parliament in a variety of ways.
She disclosed that it would not impact on the Public Affairs Committee since the Standing Order and tradition allow for the opposition to serve as chair. Teixeira said government does not have any intentions to, and has never challenged this, even in times when the administration enjoyed the majority of votes.
According to Teixeira, the Constitution Reforms Committee has been traditionally chaired by the attorney general. However, she expressed fear that this is one of the committees which the opposition is seeking to reduce from between six and 10 members to nine, where government has a four-member representation, the APNU four and the AFC one; giving the joint parliamentary opposition five members. “And therefore in their moods, declarations, attitudes and statements that for example, they may want to chair that committee as well,” Teixeira said.
The presidential advisor noted that the Oversight Security Committee, provided for in the Constitution, makes it clear in the resolution of Parliament, that government should occupy that chair.
“But the attitude and behaviour, and we can only take that as an indication; that this is not going to hold; this is a new dispensation. All these things are built up over time to create better working relations and a constructive engagement,” she maintained.
Teixeira said that recognising the opposition and government do their individual work; these efforts are being consciously undermined and can have a far-reaching impact.
“Obviously, it can lead to us trying as far as possible but if they rush through it rough shod, then we are going to be in a minority position on all these committees,” Teixeira lamented.
She said that as far as the administration foresees, the composition of the committees can also have an impact on the speed and operation of the Parliament.
Government said the issue is more than a matter of the composition of the committees and its likely impact on decision-making and judgment as a clear signal is being sent on attitudes to and respect for the democratic norms and traditions.
The government intends to respect any decision the Supreme Court may wish to make in the petition filed by the ruling administration regarding the composition of the parliamentary committees.Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said that government believes that the work of the parliamentary committees should not proceed until such time as the court delivers its decision.Late last week, the prime minister disclosed the administration’s intention to withhold participation of all parliamentary committee meetings, in the face of being held in contempt of court, and urged Speaker of the House Raphael Trotman to suspend all such meetings.“Yes, we would live with the ruling of the court,” the prime minister said. According to him, government wants a balance of parties on the committees reflective of the representation of these parties in Parliament, pursuant to Standing Order Number 94 (1).With the Peoples’ Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) gaining 49 per cent of the votes; the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) 40 per cent and the Alliance For Change (AFC) 10.7 per cent, Hinds noted that the committees as far as possible must reflect the ratio of the percentage of votes received.The prime minister added that government has proposed the traditional committees of 10 persons with five for the government, four for the APNU and one for the AFC. Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira noted that the administration has studied other Commonwealth Countries with minority governments in similar situations.In her pleadings to the Speaker, Teixeira pointed out that government has presented such examples, both from the Standing Orders of other countries and Erskine Maes, which is the written authority of the Parliament. “And we are quite concerned that the argument we put forward based on the experiences of other countries in similar position as ourselves, we are on the side of righteousness. We are supported by custom, practices and conventions in a number of cases specific Standing Orders that are similar to ours.” Teixeira emphasised that the issue is not an academic one, but involves the preservation of the Constitution and the constitutional provision of the country on which the standing rules of Parliament are based. Questioned on its possible implications on the National Assembly, Teixeira explained that the new dispensation can affect the operation of Parliament in a variety of ways.She disclosed that it would not impact on the Public Affairs Committee since the Standing Order and tradition allow for the opposition to serve as chair. Teixeira said government does not have any intentions to, and has never challenged this, even in times when the administration enjoyed the majority of votes.According to Teixeira, the Constitution Reforms Committee has been traditionally chaired by the attorney general. However, she expressed fear that this is one of the committees which the opposition is seeking to reduce from between six and 10 members to nine, where government has a four-member representation, the APNU four and the AFC one; giving the joint parliamentary opposition five members. “And therefore in their moods, declarations, attitudes and statements that for example, they may want to chair that committee as well,” Teixeira said.The presidential advisor noted that the Oversight Security Committee, provided for in the Constitution, makes it clear in the resolution of Parliament, that government should occupy that chair.“But the attitude and behaviour, and we can only take that as an indication; that this is not going to hold; this is a new dispensation. All these things are built up over time to create better working relations and a constructive engagement,” she maintained.Teixeira said that recognising the opposition and government do their individual work; these efforts are being consciously undermined and can have a far-reaching impact.“Obviously, it can lead to us trying as far as possible but if they rush through it rough shod, then we are going to be in a minority position on all these committees,” Teixeira lamented.She said that as far as the administration foresees, the composition of the committees can also have an impact on the speed and operation of the Parliament.Government said the issue is more than a matter of the composition of the committees and its likely impact on decision-making and judgment as a clear signal is being sent on attitudes to and respect for the democratic norms and traditions.
