PNC/R rejects Minister Rohee's position on Jerome Khan
Guyana Chronicle
February 13, 2004
THE People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R) says that it will not accept the position taken by Minister Clement Rohee that he will not appear before the Parliamentary Sector Committee as long as PNC/R MP Jerome Khan sits as a member as a valid reason.
Minister Rohee had expressed concern about statements made by Mr. Khan relating to him being involved in back track activities.
The PNC/R dismissed the claim as a "flimsy excuse".
"The sector committees of Parliament are appointed under Article 119b of the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana and no member of the executive branch of the Government can refuse to appear before the Committee or seek to determine the composition of that Committee," the PNC said.
The PNC/R also added that the Minister's action "smacks of a deliberate attempt by the PPP/C administration to frustrate the work of constitutionally appointed committees or perhaps a futile attempt to distract from the embattled Minister of Home Affairs."
"This is yet another attempt by the PPP/C to renege on commitments made in the constructive engagement process now that they have succeeded in obtaining debt relief under the Enhanced HIPIC Initiative, a situation which the PNC/R had long predicted."
The PNC/R said it expects that the Minister will understand his responsibility and obligations under the revised constitutional arrangements for parliamentary reform and transparency and attend the oversight hearings, which are a necessary and vital part of the parliamentary process.
The party is also calling on the Minister to tell the public all that he knows about the issuance of a US visa to him. The PNCR says that it is confident that were the Minister to bear his soul, there would be fewer misinterpretations and misconceptions on the issue.