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FM
Former Member

Opposition cries foul as Speaker denies motion for rice sector debate

February 1, 2016 | By | Filed Under News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....-rice-sector-debate/

With Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland’s recent denial of a Motion from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to have the state of the rice sector debated, the Opposition party is crying foul.
In a recent missive, the party claims that the very “principles of parliamentary democracy, conventions and norms” is under threat.
It is a hue and cry the party noted that comes just a week after the Speaker disallowed a request for an adjournment to discuss the closure of Wales Estate as a “definite matter of urgent public importance.”
On January 21, PPP Member of Parliament Irfaan Ali submitted a Motion, to wit a notice to debate the state of the rice industry of Guyana in the National Assembly. It had also called on the government to urgently take measures to rescue the industry, the farmers and their families, communities and the economy.
However, the party reported that on January 29 the Speaker, through the Clerk of the National Assembly, informed Ali that the motion infringes on the provisions of Standing Order (SO) 26 (i) “Since the Government is not officially concerned with the Rice Industry in Guyana.”

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland

PPP MP, Irfaan Ali

PPP MP, Irfaan Ali

The party noted that Standing Order (SO) 26 (i) has never been used to block Motions on notice in other cases like the 2005 flood, torture, crime wave and requests for Commission of Inquiry (COI) by then Opposition Leader David Granger.
“The utter banality of the Speaker’s decision to prevent the debate on this Motion of national importance is mind boggling,” the party said. “This ruling by the Speaker is merely the latest in a long list of dubious decisions and rulings that violate and undermine the principles of parliamentary democracy, conventions and norms.”
The party also decried the fact that there seems some confusion about the responsibilities of the Government and its Ministers. It cited the Official Gazette 87/2015 dated June 6, 2015 notice “Ministries and Assignments of Responsibilities among Ministers”.
“(This) lists Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder’s responsibilities, which include the rice industry and the Guyana Rice Development Board” (GRDB).”
“Furthermore,” it said. “The rice industry is regulated by a plethora of laws passed by this National Assembly; it is under the remit of a Minister responsible for the Sector to the National Assembly and by extension the nation.”
The PPP noted the importance of the industry to the welfare of the nation. It stated that every Minister of Finance has referred to its status, its contribution to the national economy and Government’s expectations of the industry in their annual budget speeches since independence.
The party also referred to the role played by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who had travelled to Mexico in an effort to arrange a rice deal.
“Therefore,” the party continued. “The Speaker’s decision is absolutely incorrect as the government is officially concerned with the rice industry.”
The party even referred to Article 171 of the Guyana Constitution, which states that “any Member of the National Assembly may introduce any Bill or Motion for debate in, or present any petition to the Assembly and the same shall be debated and disposed of according to the rules of procedure of the Assembly.”
In light of this, the party stated that the rules of the Assembly cannot be used to “deny, stultify or frustrate a member of the National Assembly to introduce a motion for debate.”
“The right of MP’s as elected representatives to bring matters of importance to the House is the very essence of Parliamentary democracy,” PPP stated. “And has been guarded and encouraged in the last 24 years of the Guyana National Assembly.”
It ended by demanding that the Speaker reverse his decision and allows the debate on the motion to proceed at the earliest convenient time.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

 Where was their voice before the elections, why did the PPP only have one country as sole buyer...because they are losers that's why.

Really great though that the PPP lost isn't it?

cain

How frustrating is it for a ruling party to constantly deny every motion to debate a topic in Parliament?  For those of you who see nothing wrong with this, the “principles of parliamentary democracy, conventions and norms” is under threat.  Why is the Coalition government afraid to debate these issues which are of vital importance to the poor and working class in Guyana?

How can Barton Scotland dare say “Since the Government is not officially concerned with the Rice Industry in Guyana.”  Can he at least offer an explanation to the people who put them in government?

What is Noel Holder doing for the rice farmers?  Is it not his responsibility as Minister of Agriculture to oversee the rice industry in the best interest of the Guyanese people?  Why is he not being held accountable for not doing his job?  Why are these bullies even running a country if they cannot even represent the basic interests of the people?

Bibi Haniffa
Last edited by Bibi Haniffa

“principles of parliamentary democracy, conventions and norms” is under threat.  Why is the Coalition government afraid to debate these issues which are of vital importance to the poor and working class in Guyana?

They don't give a sh!t about who get hurt along the way, as long as they get their ways in parliament and five years to do as they please. Same thing with the Wales Estate debate denial.   

FM

And don't forget we are still waiting for that salary increase debate which will never happen because the statute of limitations has now expired on that.  These people are gaming the system and getting away with it.  There is no accountability to the people.

Bibi Haniffa
Last edited by Bibi Haniffa
Bibi Haniffa posted:

And don't forget we are still waiting for that salary increase debate which will never happened because the statute of limitations has now expired on that.  These people are gaming the system and getting away with it.  There is no accountability to the people.

Correct. I don't expect to see a debate on this. The two men in the coalition that were super concerned with wasteful spending of taxpayers money, will put their heads in shame and vote for the increase. 

FM

The two serfs who fooled the rice farmers promising them higher price for their paddy and a bright future for the rice industry are hiding from rice farmers. Little do they know that rice farmers will be letting their displeasure known in various ways in the near future.

Z

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