The PPP has several bills in draft and its Chief Whip in the National Assembly, Gail Teixeira, says that government has always consulted with the opposition on legislation before it is passed.
Following statements by President Donald Ramotar that he will not assent to any bill passed by the opposition without government input, representatives of the opposition parties, APNU and AFC, told Stabroek News that they are open to consultations with the government on the legislation they plan to bring to the National Assembly but said that the same courtesy would have to be extended to them.
Contacted last week on the opposition’s position, Teixeira told Stabroek News that the PPP has always consulted with the opposition. She said that in the last Parliament, about 15 bills went to Select Committee and also recalled other instances where the ruling party consulted with the opposition prior to the passage of a bill. “There are many mechanisms for dealing with bills inside and outside of parliament,” she said.
Asked about the PPP’s legislative agenda, Teixeira said that they have a number of them in draft. She cited the Children’s Act but said at the time that she could not recall the other bills. She also noted that regulations which would guide the implementation of laws passed in the last Parliament are being formulated.
According to the PPP/C Manifesto for the 2011 elections, the ruling party promised that its new term would see legislation in the area of piracy and hijacking, to facilitate successful prosecutions; to protect society by enacting a bail act; and to stiffen custodial penalties for serious crimes.
The manifesto also promised that the administration would operationalise the Access to Information legislation, continue to implement the Broadcast Act, in addition to enacting and implementing legislation to liberalise the telecommunications sector.
It also promised to complete the appointment and operationalising of the constitutional commissions, including by finalising the appointment of the Human Rights Commission and the Public Procurement Commission. And the PPP said it would reactivate the Office of the Ombudsman.
As with the budget, the PPP will have to seek the support of the parliamentary opposition to pass bills in the National Assembly. The combined opposition holds a one-seat majority in the 65-seat National Assembly. The government cannot pass bills unless it secures an opposition vote and while the opposition can present and pass legislation with its wafer-thin majority it won’t become law unless signed by the President.
The main opposition, APNU plans to lay two bills in the National Assembly before the parliamentary recess begins on August 10. One would provide for the autonomy of the National Assembly and the other would amend the controversial Former President’s (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act 2009.
The AFC has several bills that the party plans to table in the House and will shortly present its Telecommunications Bill. The party also wants to repeal the Former President’s (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act 2009, but would be prepared to discuss its amendment with APNU. It also wants to amend the Broadcasting Act, and see the Local Government reform bills brought to the House. Other legislation includes the amendment of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, so that the minister can be charged for any wrongdoing; changing the structure of the Guyana Elections Commission; and amending of the Freedom of Information Act to give it the fuller provisions originally included in the Bill taken to the National Assembly by AFC leader, Raphael Trotman, before the government introduced and passed its own.
Government and APNU also agreed to reintroduce local government reform legislation before the parliamentary recess in August during a consultation that did not include the AFC.
