The main opposition coalition APNU today queried a two-week postponement by the government of the next planned sitting of Parliament.
Parliament, ostensibly with a packed agenda, was to have met again on May 28th. However, Parliament Office today sent out a notice stating that the next sitting has been postponed to June 13th. Critics have often queried why such long adjournments are sought when there is important legislation on the agenda.
This afternoon, APNU queried the reason for the two-week delay.
It said: “The Party Whips had agreed that the next Sitting of the National Assembly would be on Thursday 30th May 2013. However, the Leader of Government Business, Prime Minister Mr. Samuel A. Hinds, arbitrarily announced that the Sitting would be on Tuesday 28th May 2013.
“However, by a letter, dated today, Friday 24th May 2013, from Mr. Clement Rohee on behalf of the Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business, to the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Government is now, by way of a most ingenuous reason, requesting that the next Sitting of the National Assembly be held on Thursday 13th June 2013.
“Is it coincidental that this date is the day after the resumed meeting, on Wednesday 12th June 2013, of the Special Select Committee dealing with the Anti-money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2013 – Bill No. 12/2013?”
Government had been pressing the opposition for an urgent conclusion of deliberations on the anti-money laundering bill to meet the deadline of May 27 to be in compliance with international regulations. The opposition has not budged on this and yesterday it was announced that the next meeting of the committee which is deliberating on the bill will be held on June 12.
