In a sign of the changing times, Order Papers for the 10th Parliament are now being delivered to the media electronically in addition to the regular delivery.
House Speaker Raphael Trotman had signalled in recent interviews that a series of changes were on the way.
Below is the Order Paper for Wednesday’s sitting of Parliament.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
ORDER PAPER
FOR THE 5TH SITTING OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FIRST SESSION
(2012) OF THE TENTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA TO BE HELD
AT 2.00 P.M.
ON WEDNESDAY, 21ST MARCH, 2012
IN THE PARLIAMENT CHAMBER, PUBLIC BUILDINGS,
BRICKDAM, GEORGETOWN
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BUSINESS FOR SITTING
PRAYERS
OATH OF A NEW MEMBER-
MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT–
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER–
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS–
PRESENTATION OF PAPERS AND REPORTS–
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2.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES-
ORAL QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
QUESTIONS ON NOTICE–
STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS, INCLUDING POLICY STATEMENTS–
PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS–
REQUESTS FOR LEAVE TO MOVE THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE ASSEMBLY ON DEFINITE MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE–
MOTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OR SITTINGS OF THE ASSEMBLY AND MOVED BY A MINISTER-
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS-
PUBLIC BUSINESS –
(i) GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
MOTION
*1. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE OF SELECTION
The Prime Minister and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs to move the following motion:
WHEREAS the House selected nine (9) members to the Parliamentary Committee on Selection of the 10th Parliament on February 10, 2012;
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*Not to be proceeded with at this sitting
3.
AND WHEREAS the House selected four (4) members for the governing PPP/C, four (4) members for the opposition APNU and one (1) member for the opposition AFC;
AND WHEREAS the allocation of a nine (9) 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 (10) member Committee with five (5) for PPP/C, four (4) APNU and one (1) AFC;
AND WHEREAS Standing Order No. 94(1) provides for “each Select Committee being so constituted to ensure that, as far as possible, the balance of parties in the National Assembly be reflected in the Committee”;
AND WHEREAS the existing balance of the parties in the 10th Parliament is as follows:
PPP/C: 32 seats
APNU: 26 seats
AFC: 7 seats
AND WHEREAS the balance of the parties in the existing Committee of Selection does not conform to Standing Order No. 94(1),
BE IT RESOLVED:
That the decision of the House on the composition of the Parliamentary Committee of Selection be declared inconsistent with Standing Order 94(1);
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED:
That the House takes immediate steps to ensure that the composition of the Parliamentary Committee of Selection is brought into conformity with Standing Order No. 94(1); and
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4.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the currently constituted Committee of Selection be prevented from discharging its functions under Standing Order No. 81.
(Notice Paper No. 24 (M7 Govt 4) published on 2012-03-07)
(i) PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS
MOTIONS
2. REPRESENTATION ON SECTORAL COMMITTEES
Mr. Joseph Harmon, M.S.M., M.P., to move the following motion:
WHEREAS Standing Order No. 86(1) makes provision for the appointment of the four (4) Sectoral Committees pursuant to Article 119B of the Constitution as soon as may be after the beginning of each National Assembly;
AND WHEREAS Standing Order No. 86(2) provides that each Sectoral Committee shall consist of seven (7) members, four (4) representing the Government and three (3) the Opposition, respectively;
AND WHEREAS in this 10th Parliament, the Opposition is in the majority and the Government the minority,
AND WHEREAS Standing Order No. 86(2) does not represent the new majority reality in this 10th Parliament;
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5.
BE IT RESOLVED:
That Standing Order No. 86(2) be amended to read that representation on the Sectoral Committees should be calculated in accordance with the seat allocation to the Political Parties in Parliament; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the four (4) Sectoral Committees not be constituted until and unless representation thereto is calculated in accordance with the seat allocation to the Political Parties in the 10th Parliament.
(Notice Paper No. 21 (M4 Opp 1) published on 2012-03-05)
3. COMPOSITION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, M.P., to move the following motion:
WHEREAS Standing Order No. 85(1) makes provision for the appointment of a Parliamentary Management Committee as soon as may be after the beginning of each National Assembly;
AND WHEREAS Standing Order No. 85(2) provides that the Parliamentary Management Committee shall comprise ten (10) members, five (5) representing the Government and five (5) representing the Opposition to be nominated by the Committee of Selection, with the Speaker as the Chair, and if the latter is not a member of the Committee, he or she shall not have an original or casting vote;
AND WHEREAS the provision of the said Standing Order No. 85(2) could lead to gridlock and impasse in the work of the Parliamentary Management Committee,
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6.
BE IT RESOLVED:
That Standing Order No. 85(2) be amended to provide that the composition of the Parliamentary Management Committee shall be nine (9) members; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That representation on the nine (9) member Parliamentary Management Committee shall be determined in accordance with the seat allocation to the Political Parties in the Assembly.
(Notice Paper No. 22 (M5 Opp 2) published on 2012-03-05)
4. THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES
Mr. Basil Williams, M.P., to move the following motion:
WHEREAS Standing Orders Nos. 80(5), 88(2) and 93(2) provide that unless otherwise provided for in the Standing Orders any member of the Assembly, whether elected or non-elected, shall be eligible for membership of any Standing Committee, Select Committee and Special Select Committee, respectively, and shall have the right to vote therein,
BE IT RESOLVED:
That Standing Orders Nos. 80(5), 88(2) and 93(2) be amended to read that only an elected member of the Assembly shall have the right to vote in any Standing Committee, Select Committee and Special Select Committee.
(Notice Paper No. 23 (M6 Opp 3) published on 2012-03-05)
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7.
(ii) COMMITTEES BUSINESS
………………………………………
S.E. ISAACS
Clerk of the National Assembly
PARLIAMENT OFFICE,
Public Buildings,
Brickdam,
Georgetown.
16th March, 2012.
