APNU Leader David Granger says that his party remains committed to negotiating with the AFC over the position of Speaker in the National Assembly, but says that the opposition coalition does not feel that the AFC nominee Moses Nagamootoo would be the best person for the job.
Granger said that the coalition has put forward two nominees in Deborah Backer and Bishwaishwar `Cammie’ Ramsaroop for the post and was sticking by them. He said that the negotiations between APNU and the AFC were ongoing and added that the parties hoped to settle on the issue soon. APNU, he said, was committed to reaching consensus on the matter with the AFC and ruled out seeking the support of the PPP/C on the matter.
APNU Deputy Leader Dr Rupert Roopnaraine told Stabroek News last week that the APNU and the AFC intended to settle on the matter before the parties next engage the government. A meeting among the parties is tentatively set for today, Granger indicated to Stabroek News yesterday, but he would not say whether a decision would be made on the matter of the Speaker before then. Granger said though that the parties had other issues to discuss other than just who would be the Speaker.
When asked if he considered Nagamootoo to be a polarizing figure, Granger answered in the negative but pointed to his close association with the PPP over the years.
Nagamootoo, Granger said, had been a long-standing member of the PPP who was a member of the party’s Central Committee and a member of the National Assembly when some of the abuses by the PPP/C administration were being committed. “We would like someone who is not so easily and closely identifiable with the PPP,” Granger said. Granger said that over 175,000 people voted for change at the last elections by not voting for the PPP/C, and said that the opposition parties should agree to offer the electorate this. In plugging the candidature of Nagamootoo, AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan last week said Nagamootoo possessed all the qualities to be an outstanding Speaker. “Experience, legal knowledge, knowing the Sir Michael Davies report (on parliamentary reforms), being with the constitutional reform commission from day one, understanding what needs to make parliament the premier institution of the land, a capacity to be diplomatic when that is required, a capacity to be very brutal if that is required,” Ramjattan listed as the qualities.
The ruling PPP/C would like for Ralph Ramkarran to be returned as Speaker of the House and has been mum on the other names being mooted for the post. Nagamootoo recently told Stabroek News that the AFC should be given the speakership of the National Assembly even if it had to secure some votes from the PPP/C. However, AFC Leader Raphael Trotman later distanced the party from Nagamootoo’s statements, insisting that the AFC did not intend to seek support from the PPP/C. While indicating that the party was still supporting Nagamootoo for the post, Trotman said that his party is committed to having the Speaker come from the Opposition.
“Nothing comes for free,” Trotman said, while indicating that seeking the support of the PPP/C on this matter would inevitably lead to the PPP/C requesting certain favours later. The AFC, Trotman added, had campaigned on certain issues, including curbing the excessiveness and abuse by the government and has a duty to the persons that voted for the party. He said that by seeking the support of the PPP/C on this matter, it may compromise the party’s ability to rein in the PPP/C on its abuses and excesses in the future.
The PPP/C for the first time since coming to power in 1992 does not have control of the 65-seat National Assembly. It secured 32 seats at the recent elections. APNU and the AFC together control the remaining 33 seats. The Speaker is elected by a simple majority in the House.
