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Former Member

‘Fight’ erupts in House…Jagdeo, Nagamootoo vie for speaking spots

August 21, 2015 | By | Filed Under News 
 

– Govt. accused of bringing anti-Jagdeo agenda to Parliament

By Kiana Wilburg      The coalition administration is already known for bringing a “fresh approach” to the 2015 budget as well as the system of government.  But it is apparently trying to do things differently even in the National Assembly. The Budget 2015 speeches by Parliamentarians are expected to wrap up today with the deliberations over the estimates scheduled for next week.

Members of the Opposition during the conference yesterday.

Members of the Opposition during the conference yesterday.

As is tradition, the Finance Minister is the last speaker today with the Opposition Leader being the second-to-last presenter. Preceding him would be the Prime Minister. Therefore, should this age old custom of the House be followed then Former President Bharrat Jagdeo will be speaking just before Finance Minister Winston Jordan wraps things up. But the Government does not agree with this. In fact, it wants Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to be the second to last speaker. The issue caused Opposition’s Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, to approach House Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland to rectify the matter which goes against the traditions of the National Assembly. But up to press time, this matter was unresolved. It has forced members of the Opposition to deduce that the government simply has an “Anti-Jagdeo” agenda which it has brought to the honourable House. A press conference was later held by members of the PPP in Committee Room Two of the Parliament to register their disappointment in the government’s behaviour. Former Minister of Tourism, Irfaan Ali who chaired the briefing, was the first to inform the media that the action is not merely simplistic but a slap in the face of democracy. Teixeira then proceeded to relate to the media a disappointing discovery she made after receiving the speaking order for the Members of Parliament today. “Last night (Wednesday night) I went to speak with the Speaker and the Clerk about what was emerging since Monday where the government Chief Whip, Amna Ally stated that the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, would not be the penultimate speaker and that he be constrained by the time frame of 45 minutes …we had an argument and I made it clear that the Opposition Leader of Guyana is always the penultimate speaker and the Minister of Finance Minister closes it.” The politician continued, “The Prime Minster speaks before the Opposition Leader so the order of the speakers is: Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and then Finance Minister.” Teixeira said that she even went to the House Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland to express her concern about this looming development. To her dismay, the Opposition Chief Whip said that Ally yesterday presented to her the list of speakers which revealed that the Prime Minister instead of Jagdeo is the second to last speaker. “We made it clear to Dr. Scotland that we will not accept the parliamentary convention being flouted,” Teixeira added. She emphasized that since 1992, the PPP has never shown disrespect to those who served as opposition leaders, whether it was the late former President Desmond Hoyte, Robert Corbin or current President David Granger. She said, too, that there were instances when Hoyte and Corbin spoke for two hours and Granger spoke for 45 minutes. Teixeira said that those persons were never constrained by a time limit.  “This is a slap in the face and an attempt to muzzle the opposition and show disrespect to Jagdeo.” The Opposition Chief Whip said that the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs has been asked to do the necessary research to determine if she or Ally is correct in their respective positions. Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall said that the matter represents the rapid dismantling of laws and traditions. PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee also added his voice to the issue stating that it is clear that an “anti-Jagdeo agenda has been taken to parliament.” He added, “There is certainly an anti-Jagdeo agenda that is playing out in Parliament. I don’t think we are strangers to this agenda, and it is rather unfortunate that it is taken to a place like the Parliament …This anti-Jagdeo agenda is playing out in the court, in the Parliament, the public domain and even in the media. When will this end?” Rohee said that he hopes that the Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. is paying attention to this matter.

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Originally Posted by redux:
Originally Posted by Nehru:

The PPP MUST walk out of Parliament if this Tradition is not followed.

please tell them do it nah

 

they already boycott 2 months

Exactly!

Mitwah

Budget debate…   Opposition stages walkout during Volda Lawrence presentation

August 21, 2015 | By | Filed Under News 
 
Opposition seats remain empty during the presentation by Minister Volda Lawrence

Opposition seats remain empty during the presentation by Minister Volda Lawrence

As soon as the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland announced that the Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence, was going to take the floor to make her contribution to the 2015 budget debate, the political opposition walked out. They retreated to the Members’ Lounge of the Parliament and refused to divulge to reporters, why they opted not to listen to the Government Parliamentarian. Twenty minutes later, PPP Member of Parliament, Vindhya Persaud was the only one from the opposition side who returned to the House. She was slated to deliver her remarks after Lawrence. When it was her turn to take the floor, the rest of the members of the opposition’s camp returned to support their colleague. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo later in the day told media operatives that the purpose for the walkout was to conduct “a very urgent meeting that simply couldn’t wait”. He gave the impression that it was mere coincidence that their meeting concluded the very minute Persaud took the floor to deliver her presentation on the 2015 Budget. The walkout by the PPP did not in any way daunt the spirit of the Minister of Social Protection. She threw her support behind the 2015 budget, stating that it embodies the underlying goal of social protection which is the achievement of a good life, free from the ravages of poverty. Lawrence also told members of the House that her ministry will pursue a six-point action plan which includes an early childhood development programme, improved benefits for pensioners, and programmes for the vulnerable and the disadvantaged. (Kiana Wilburg)

FM
Originally Posted by asj:

Budget debate…   Opposition stages walkout during Volda Lawrence presentation

August 21, 2015 | By | Filed Under News 
 
Opposition seats remain empty during the presentation by Minister Volda Lawrence

Opposition seats remain empty during the presentation by Minister Volda Lawrence

As soon as the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland announced that the Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence, was going to take the floor to make her contribution to the 2015 budget debate, the political opposition walked out. They retreated to the Members’ Lounge of the Parliament and refused to divulge to reporters, why they opted not to listen to the Government Parliamentarian. Twenty minutes later, PPP Member of Parliament, Vindhya Persaud was the only one from the opposition side who returned to the House. She was slated to deliver her remarks after Lawrence. When it was her turn to take the floor, the rest of the members of the opposition’s camp returned to support their colleague. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo later in the day told media operatives that the purpose for the walkout was to conduct “a very urgent meeting that simply couldn’t wait”. He gave the impression that it was mere coincidence that their meeting concluded the very minute Persaud took the floor to deliver her presentation on the 2015 Budget. The walkout by the PPP did not in any way daunt the spirit of the Minister of Social Protection. She threw her support behind the 2015 budget, stating that it embodies the underlying goal of social protection which is the achievement of a good life, free from the ravages of poverty. Lawrence also told members of the House that her ministry will pursue a six-point action plan which includes an early childhood development programme, improved benefits for pensioners, and programmes for the vulnerable and the disadvantaged. (Kiana Wilburg)

Great work by the Opposition

Nehru
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by redux:
Originally Posted by Nehru:

The PPP MUST walk out of Parliament if this Tradition is not followed.

please tell them do it nah

 

they already boycott 2 months

Exactly!

They show up so they can get their pay check.

Django
Originally Posted by Django:
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by redux:
Originally Posted by Nehru:

The PPP MUST walk out of Parliament if this Tradition is not followed.

please tell them do it nah

 

they already boycott 2 months

Exactly!

They show up so they can get their pay check.

Granger should deduct for the days missing.

Mitwah
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by Django:
Originally Posted by Mitwah:
Originally Posted by redux:
Originally Posted by Nehru:

The PPP MUST walk out of Parliament if this Tradition is not followed.

please tell them do it nah

 

they already boycott 2 months

Exactly!

They show up so they can get their pay check.

Granger should deduct for the days missing.

Good point,no pay for days not worked.

Django
Originally Posted by Mitwah:

The PPP/C is sending a strong message to the populace that they don't want to work and that they don't deserve a place in Parliament.

Tradition must be followed. Don't be fooled, the PPP represents the majority of Guyanese, after taking into account the Berbicians that were mislead by the AFC/PNC. The only language expressed by the AFC is "haul dem raas" how educated for an officer being paid by the taxpayers. CRIME IS UP,UP UP.

K
Originally Posted by kp:
Originally Posted by Mitwah:

The PPP/C is sending a strong message to the populace that they don't want to work and that they don't deserve a place in Parliament.

Tradition must be followed. Don't be fooled, the PPP represents the majority of Guyanese, after taking into account the Berbicians that were mislead by the AFC/PNC. The only language expressed by the AFC is "haul dem raas" how educated for an officer being paid by the taxpayers. CRIME IS UP,UP UP.

Haul yuh ass da side. The PPP has serious infighting. Where is the Duck? The PPP does not represent the majority. Crime was on the rise during the PPP/C 23 years in office.

Mitwah

The PNC is out to consolidate power and continue to rule beyond 2020 without their sidekick, the AFC. Granger is playing these AFC fools for now. Some AFC supporters realized this and some like, Mitwah, still have his head buried in the sand.

Billy Ram Balgobin
Originally Posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

The PNC is out to consolidate power and continue to rule beyond 2020 without their sidekick, the AFC. Granger is playing these AFC fools for now. Some AFC supporters realized this and some like, Mitwah, still have his head buried in the sand.

The populace will decide in 2020. The PPP/C lost twice already and primarily because of Jagdeo.

Mitwah

Come 2020, the PPP and other opposition parties will have be prepared to deal with violence because the PNC will use deadly force to stay in power. The prospects of oil wealth gushing in within the next decade would only strengthen Granger's appetite for violence. He will use the GDF to slaughter his opponents. They did it in the past and there is no indication that they won't do it in the future.

Billy Ram Balgobin
Originally Posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

Come 2020, the PPP and other opposition parties will have be prepared to deal with violence because the PNC will use deadly force to stay in power. The prospects of oil wealth gushing in within the next decade would only strengthen Granger's appetite for violence. He will use the GDF to slaughter his opponents. They did it in the past and there is no indication that they won't do it in the future.

You are being silly now.

Mitwah
Those two House Slave dont care rat's ass who get slaughter as long as they have their Titles and a promise from Massa granger that they will NOT be sent back into the Fields!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Originally Posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

You see it as silly. I see it as something realistic that we should all be concerned about. Pull your head out of the sand. The PNC has a long history of violence on its rap sheet.

Those two House Slave dont care rat's ass who get slaughter as long as they have their Titles and a promise from Massa Granger that they will NOT be sent back into the Fields!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Originally Posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

Nehru
Originally Posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

You see it as silly. I see it as something realistic that we should all be concerned about. Pull your head out of the sand. The PNC has a long history of violence on its rap sheet.

Where was the violence that you were predicting before the election?

Mitwah

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