Budget protest
Parliament committee to examine behaviour of eleven PNCR MPs
Stabroek News
June 4, 2003
The Committee of Privilege of the National Assembly will today begin considering complaints about the behaviour of eleven PNCR parliamentarians during the presentation of this year’s national budget on March 28.
Even though the incident took place before the PNCR returned to the National Assembly sources say the issue could cause a snag in the improved relations between the government and the major opposition parties following the signing of the May 6 communiqué between President Bharrat Jagdeo and PNCR Leader Robert Corbin.
The eleven members against whom the complaints lie are Vincent Alexander, Clarissa Riehl, Abdul Kadir, Drs Dalgleish Joseph and George Norton, Jerome Khan, Rajkumarie Bancroft, Nas-seer Alli, Raphael Trotman, Deborah Backer, and James McAllister. Khan is before the courts in relation to an incident arising from his conduct when he was prevented from entering the National Assembly.
Minister of Culture, Gail Teixeira, who moved the motion at a sitting of the National Assembly to have the MPs, with the exception of Alexander, referred to the committee, said that their behaviour as part of a noisy demonstration led to the suspension of the sitting of the parliament and prevented other parliamentarians from entering the chambers. She also complained that Khan and Kadir had entered parliament bearing placards during the suspension of the sitting.
In his motion asking parliament to refer Alexander’s behaviour to the committee, Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy complained that in a letter published in Stabroek News on April 8 and in Kaieteur News on April 10, Alexander had accused the Speaker of bias, had made scandalous remarks about him, and had attacked the integrity of the members of parliament.
The Speaker, Ralph Ramkarran, who is the subject of one the complaints involving Alexander, is the chairman of the committee considering the complaint.
Ramkarran wrote to both Alexander and the newspapers demanding an apology. Stabroek News apologised but Alexander has not done so.
Alexander is also a member of the committee and both he and the Speaker, sources say, may have to consider recusing themselves when the matter is being considered. Some observers have told Stabroek News that there is no need for the Speaker to recuse himself, as it is Alexander’s behaviour that is being investigated.
The PNCR parliamentarians were absent from the Assembly when both motions were considered as the party was continuing its boycott of Parliament.
The parliamentarians were part of a noisy demonstration, which disrupted the proceedings of the Assembly and led to the suspension of the sitting by the Speaker.
While the Assembly was adjourned it was claimed that some of the PNCR parliamentarians forced their way into the chamber.
PNCR officials have contended that the behaviour of the parliamentarians was no more outrageous than that of a number of PPP members, including the late President, Dr Cheddi Jagan, when they were in opposition.
They recalled that PPP protests included the removal of the Speaker’s Mace from the Clerk’s table, the sprinkling of flour in the Parliament Chambers and the dashing of the law books onto the chamber floor. (Patrick Denny)
