AFC sees plot to stifle its participation in Parliamentary affairs
• cites exclusion from Nebraska visit
Kaieteur News
February 25, 2007
The Alliance For Change (AFC) is alleging that there are deliberate moves afoot to stifle its participation in Parliamentary affairs.
In a letter to the Acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Clarissa Riehl, the AFC expressed its displeasure with the way in which deliberate efforts to stifle its involvement and participation in the affairs of the Assembly are being encouraged and supported.
The AFC said that it is firmly of the view that there is a collaborative PPP/C and PNCR1-G effort to deny it an opportunity to meaningfully participate in the business of Parliament.
According to the AFC, recently there was the deliberate exclusion of any AFC member to comprise a delegation to conduct a study mission at the Nebraska Legislature in the United States of America next month.
AFC's Chief Whip, Sheila Holder, in the letter to the Acting Speaker, pointed out that Opposition Leader Robert Corbin has submitted the names of four PNCR-1G MPs to attend and observe the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature Committee system at work.
The team to Nebraska is supposed to comprise eight members.
The visit is intended to expose and sensitise Parliamentarians who are members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Economic Services Committee (ESC) in order to enhance the functioning of those committees.
“The AFC, which has two Parliamentarians on those committees, was not consulted prior to the selection and submission of the four names, thereby excluding AFC Parliamentarians from gaining relevant exposure and experience on offer,” Holder stated in her letter.
However, yesterday, Opposition Leader, Robert Corbin said that the AFC, instead of blowing up the issue in the media, should have sought to consult with the PNCR-1G.
He also dismissed claims that the party was working with the PPP/C to prevent the AFC's participation in parliamentary affairs.
“We are open for discussion and the AFC needed to consult before going public. We have not had discussions on this matter,” Corbin stated.
Corbin stated that the only discussion his party had with the AFC was through the PNCR-1G Acting Chief Whip, Deborah Backer, on working together in a number of other areas.
Citing previous experiences, the AFC said that it has complained in the past about the exclusion of its members from committees as alternates, and the removal of AFC and GAP-ROAR representatives from the programme of the recently concluded Parliamentary Symposium involving MPs from the United Kingdom Parliament.
The AFC noted that at the commencement of the Ninth Parliament, MPs were informed that political party representation on committees, delegations and the like would be accorded on a proportionate basis.
“Unfortunately, this rule is being observed in the disobedience. It is mind-boggling how a delegation of this size and importance could include only the PPP/C and the PNCR1-G and not all of the political parties represented in Parliament. The AFC is demanding an explanation,” Holder noted in her letter.
The party noted, regrettably, that the statements made and often repeated about inclusivity and cooperation are nothing but idle boasts.