THE controversial motion to adopt the Fourth Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee to address matters relating to the appointment of Members of the Service Commissions was passed by a Government majority in the National Assembly yesterday.
The main Opposition PNC Reform had called for a 'division'.
The National Assembly also approved a motion for an extension of the deadline for the Disciplined Forces Commission to submit the Interim Report of the Guyana Police Force from November 18 to December 1.
The passage of first motion paved the way for two more members - Mr. Leslie Melville and Dr. Kissoon - to be appointed Members of the Public Service Commission in accordance with Article 200(1)(b) of the Constitution.
The PNC/R, however, indicated that it would not support Dr. Kissoon's appointment since it did not even credibly recognize the recently established Public Service Senior Staff Association (PSSSA) that nominated Dr. Kissoon in the first place.
PSSSA submitted two nominees - Mr. Harry Narine Nawbatt and Dr. Kissoon - to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for appointment to the Public Service Commission. The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) submitted the names of Mr. Joseph Harmon and Mr. Leslie Melville, while the Federation of Unions of Government Employees (FUGE) submitted Mr. Earl Aloysius Welch.
Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly dealing with the appointment of members of the Service Commissions, Minister Gail Teixeira, lashed out at the PNC/R and pointing out that there is nothing controversial about Dr. Kissoon's nomination by the PSSSA, which is a legitimate body.
It is understood that after the Committee examined the names submitted by GPSU, PSSSA and FUGE, it considered the two proposals relating to the persons to be signified to President Bharrat Jagdeo for appointment to the Public Service Commission. One proposal comprised choosing between Melville, Welch and Dr. Kissoon while the other was Harmon and Dr. Kissoon.
"The Committee began to consider the submissions on 12 August, 2003 and reached agreement on one of the two nominees. However, on account of the recess of parliament, no further action was taken on the matter by the Committee until its first meeting on the 11 November after the recess," the (amended) Fourth Report of the Committee stated.
It said too that after considering the proposals, the Committee decided on submitting the names of Mr. Leslie Melville and Dr. Kissoon.
Members of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to address matters relating to the appointment of Members of Commissions are Minister Teixeira (Chairperson); and Ministers Satyadeow Sawh, Clinton Collymore, Jennifer Westford, Anthony Xavier and Leslie Ramsammy (representing the PPP/C); Mrs. Clarissa Riehl, Mr. Deryck Bernard, Mr. Vincent Alexander and Mr. James McAllister (representing the PNC/R); and Mrs. Sheila Holder (from the Guyana Action Party/Working People's Alliance).
An entire paragraph was also deleted in the printed report of the Committee which was circulated in the National Assembly and this fueled a mini-debate centred around 'mischief' and 'suspicion'. The reported was, however, corrected during a 90-minute adjournment, which was abruptly called by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran due to the persistent ringing of a cellular phone in the Parliament Chambers at the Ocean View Convention Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
A visibly upset Ramkarran interrupted Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. Reepu Daman Persaud who was speaking at the time the cell phone rang and abruptly called for the adjournment at 14:20 hrs - about 15 minutes after the sitting commenced.
The person whose cell phone caused the Speaker to be upset and saying that "there is disorder in the National Assembly" was a Member of the Public. He was 'escorted' out of the Parliament chambers shortly after the adjournment.
Ramkarran, who have had cause to speak out in the past against cell phones ringing in the National Assembly when in session, said he will be moving to a Parliamentary Committee to ban cell phones from the National Assembly. According to him, with or without the approval of the committee he will enforce such a ban when the Assembly is in session.
Meanwhile, the Speaker had earlier presented to the Assembly, the Report of the Auditor General on the Public Accounts of Guyana and on the Accounts of Ministries, Departments and Regions for the fiscal year ended 31 December, 2002.
Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Dale Bisnauth presented the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund Committee Annual Review 2002 and Protocol and Recommendations, which were adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 90th session held in June, 2002.
Minister Reepu Daman Persaud also presented the Annual Report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the year 2000 on behalf of the Foreign Minister, Dr. Rudy Insanally.
The Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2003 was also presented in the National Assembly. The Bill sought to amend the Local Authorities (Elections) Act to provide for the postponement of elections of councillors of local democratic organs.
The Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society (Amendment) Bill 2003 was also presented in the National Assembly by Mr. Cyril Belgrave. This Bill sought to amend the Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society ordinance, Chapter 211. "BY the amendment by Clause 2 to Section 25 of the Ordinance an officer of the Society will cease to be a director if his employment with the Society comes to an end. Clause 3 repeals Section 30 of the Ordinance which prohibits a woman from being eligible for election as a director. Thus the way is now being cleared to enable a woman to become a director of the Society," stated the explanatory memorandum of the Bill.
Belgrave also presented the Guyana Free Protestant Episcopal Church Bill 2003. The object of the Bill (which is a private member's bill) is to incorporate the Guyana Free Protestant Episcopal Church in Guyana and provide for its holding and disposal of property and for matters connected therewith.