These days, the National Assembly is one of the places where one can have the most laughs and not only from the repartee that comes from the few quick-witted parliamentarians still remaining, but also from the gestures and mannerisms of members of that esteemed House.
Ask PPP/C MP Jennifer Westford, the woman was laughing throughout the proceedings at the first meeting of the tenth parliament. Not sure what the joke(s) was/were though.
While some of the cross the floor heckling can sometimes get boisterous, it is usually quite entertaining. The ninth parliament had some really good humour – stand-up comedy quality – or so I’ve been told.
After a long time, I ventured into the Parliament – history was about to be created and I was not about miss it. What history? Ah man don’t forget that for the first time in the history of Guyana the Speaker of the National Assembly came from the opposition side of the House in the name of AFC’s Raphael Trotman. So there I was anxiously observing the goings on; looking around at the faces of the 65 persons elected to speak on behalf of us in Parliament.
As I listened to them take their oaths of office, I shook my head in disbelief as many of them struggled to pronounce the words “cooperative” and “solemnly”. I tried to hazard a guess as to the reason for this; were they nervous? Excited? Anxious?
Clerk of National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs had to remind APNU’s Amna Ally that he was mandated by President Donald Ramotar to carry out a function in Parliament and she should allow him to do it.
“I would be happy if I would be allowed to do so,” he told Ally, who, in excitement, had jumped up to withdraw the name of Deborah Backer as Speaker of the House after Trotman was nominated.
Still on Isaacs he did break the ice in Parliament when he asked David Granger if he should say retired Brigadier or Brigadier retired. Even the ever serious Granger smiled while his colleagues chuckled at the question.
Of course there was no reason for some members of the opposition to be angry that Ralph Ramkarran was nominated for the position but that is just how they sounded when they each uttered their “No” in opposition to him getting position and which ultimately killed his dream of becoming the Speaker once again. And while I would understand why he was angry, after all he wanted to continue as Speaker – he could have at least pretended and smiled and not remained so stony-faced. The only time he cracked what appeared to be a smile (it was more like him exercising his lips) was when he was directly addressed by Trotman. I guess he knew that all eyes would have been on him then.
And why did Manzoor Nadir (whatever happened to The United Force?) and Robert Persaud have to say “Aye” instead of “Yes” like everyone else who supported Ramkarran for the speakership?
I understand fully well why former commissioner of police Winston Felix kept his eyes closed throughout almost the entire proceedings. After all, he was sitting opposite Clement Rohee and it was not because of his red shirt (Rohee and Bibi Shadick may have still been in campaign mood hence their red attire) but rather he is the former boss you have quite a few spats with.
But seriously those on the government side could have at least clapped a little when Trotman was elected. Only Prime Minister Sam Hinds gently tapped his hand as his colleagues on the opposite side broke out into loud thumping supported by claps in the viewing gallery.
We know that Nigel Hughes supports his wife in her new role as a parliamentarian but really did he have to have his cellular phone trained on her the entire time as she took her oath? Speaking of the oath the only government member who looked at Moses Nagamootoo as he took his was Indra Chandrapal. And she had such a sad expression. The others avoided looking at him.
Priya Manickchand looked intently at all of the new faces on the opposition side as they were being sworn in, as if she was begging the question behind their choice of support for another party other than the PPP/C.
And is Kwame McCoy Gail Teixeira’s briefcase carrier? That could explain his presence in parliament because I am not sure what else he was there for. He did tell Martin Goolsarran to “gather them up” in reference to the many employees from NCN that covered the event. But apart from that he was just seen carrying Teixeira’s briefcase and walking behind her. And who in the media had their cell phone ringing loudly as the prayer was being said? Not good manners at all.
And so the tenth parliament was opened. I vote David Granger and Valerie Garrido-Lowe as the best dressed parliamentarians on that day. (thescene@stabroek news.com)
