Rohee speaks but firearms bill defeated

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee speaking in parliament yesterday. (Arian Browne photo)

The majority opposition voted against the Firearms  (Amendment) Bill 2013 in the National Assembly yesterday after the Opposition held fast to their resolve not to allow the passage of any piece of legislation piloted by Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee,  who  they had passed a motion of no-confidence in last year.

The Bill was meant to reduce the flow of illegal firearms into the country and close loopholes in the law which allow trafficking in firearms to escape prosecution.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee speaking in parliament yesterday. (Arian Browne photo)
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee speaking in parliament yesterday. (Arian Browne photo)

While the opposition members remained in their seats, they chose not to participate in the debate and none of them said anything on the Bill piloted by Rohee. At the previous sitting, Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman had ruled that Rohee would be able to speak despite the motion of no-confidence.

Yesterday, there was another attempt by APNU MP Basil Williams