Committee of Privileges The Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) has noted with grave concern a ruling by Speaker of the National Assembly Mr. Raphael Trotman not to refer two opposition MPs to the Privileges Committeee. Both of the two AFC MPs, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan and Ms. Kathy Huges have admitted to having pecuniary interest on matters which were before the National Assembly which constituted a case of conflict of interest and a breach of parliamentary ethics, It is clear that the Speaker has chosen to ignore the merits of the matter brought before him by PPP/C Chief Parliamentary Whip Ms. Gail Teixeira and instead arbitrarily ruled against the sending of the two opposition MPs to the Privileges Committee. This is a violation of the parliamentary procedures and Standing Order 107 which states that a Member of Parliament is not allowed to appear before the Assembly or any Committee thereof as counsellor or solicitor for any party or in any capacity for which he or she is to receive a fee or reward. The case against both opposition MPs could not have been more clear cut. Cathy Hughes was the Public Relations Consultant for Sithe Global and she failed to disclose such information to the National Assembly of which she is a member. In the case of Ramjattan, one of the bidders for the construction of the Speciality Hospital was his client and in clear violation of parliamentary ethics he voted for the project during the bidding stage of the project. However, after his client lost out on the contract award, he then voted against the project in 2013 and again in 2014 during consideration of the Budget Estimates. The PPP is convinced that the ruling by the Speaker is indicative of a widely held perception that the Speaker of the National Assembly is not only biased in favour of the opposition parties in Parliament but also is an integral part of a much broader and sinister opposition plot to frustrate the parliamentary agenda, and ultimately to destabilize the current PPP/C administration. The Party is not oblivious to the known political leaning and pre-disposition of the Speaker having regard to his political DNA but at the very least expected that he would have displayed some measure of fairness and objectivity in the conduct of his parliamentary duties as Speaker of the House. Regrettably, his most recent ruling have shattered whatever little hope one may have of him in that regard especially when seen against the unbridled haste to commit the Finance Minister Dr, Ashni Singh before the Privileges Committee in the performance of his ministerial duties which, unlike the two opposItion MPs, is in full conformity with the laws of the country. The PPP stands in full solidarity with the Donald Ramotar-led PPP/C administration as it seeks to navigate the turbulent political waters and remain confident that it will ride the huge waves and steer the ship of state to stability and economic and social progress. The Party also calls on the Guyanese people to be on guard against those elements who individually and jointly seek to reverse the social and economic gains that have been achieved over the past years by the current PPP/C administration.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 23:32:19 +0000
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