Government yesterday deferred a Motion on the composition of the Committee of Selection in Parliament until the outcome of a related Constitutional Motion filed in the High Court.
This is according to Prime Minister Sam Hinds in Parliament yesterday.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall filed the Motion in the High Court last week.
Hinds’ Motion sought to have the composition of the all-important Committee of Selection declared inconsistent with Standing Order No. 94(1) and for the committee to be prevented from carrying out its duties.
The motion in Hinds’ name seeks to have the House resolve to take immediate steps to ensure that the composition of the Parliamentary Committee of Selection is brought into conformity with Standing Order No. 94(1), and that the currently constituted Committee of Selection be prevented from discharging its functions under Standing Order No. 81.
Before the High Court, the AG is additionally asking the court for orders setting aside, revoking, cancelling or annulling the composition of the committee on the grounds that it was in breach of the Constitution and a breach of the provisions of the Elections Laws (Amendment) Act and further directing the respondents and their servants/agents to constitute all Standing Committees and Sectoral Committees and every other Committee of the 10th Parliament, whose composition are not expressly set out in the Constitution, with due regard to and in compliance with the principle of proportionality.
The PM noted too that the allocation of a nine-member Committee of Selection was by way of an amendment by the combined APNU/AFC opposition to the Motion tabled by the Leader of the House for a ten-member Committee with five for PPP/C, four APNU and one AFC.
Hinds is maintaining that each Select Committee should be constituted to ensure that, as far as possible, the balance of parties in the National Assembly be reflected in the Committee.
