Education Minister Priya Manickchand came in for a second round of booing yesterday when she tried to rebuff criticism in the National Assembly over her recent attack on the former US Ambassador.
APNU MP Africo Selman, addressing the Assembly under Standing Order (SO) 19, took Manickchand to task for remarks made a week earlier at a reception hosted by the then departing Ambassador Brent Hardt at the residence, where she elicited jeers and boos after attacking the envoy over his criticism of the excuses given by the Donald Ramotar administration and the president himself for not holding local government elections. Manickchand castigated the ambassador in a manner many critics have labelled undiplomatic and unprofessional. Lauding her riposte, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon labelled Manickchand’s presentation as a “feral blast”. Since the incident Manickchand has been scolded as well as defended for her actions.
After she was cleared to speak, Selman told the house that she is “personally aggrieved” by the minister’s “attack” because it was embarrassing, undip-lomatic and inappropriate. Before Selman got too far, though, PPP/C MP Gail Teixeira rose and pointed out that while Selman claimed to be making a personal statement, she was purporting to speak on behalf of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which contravened SO 19. SO 19 says: “With the leave of the Speaker, a Member may make a personal explanation at the time appointed under Standing Order No. 12 (Order of Business) although there be no question before the Assembly; but no controversial matter may be brought forward nor any debates arise upon the explanation.”
Selman had said that APNU believed government should have called and discussed the matter outside of the limelight, as opposed to “attacking” Hardt.
Teixeira, the PPP/C’s Chief Whip, laughed when Selman claimed she was personally aggrieved by Manickchand’s actions, while PPP/C MP Bibi Shadick said she could not see how Selman could have been aggrieved unless she was a staff member of the US Embassy. Shadick also noted that the matter on which Selman wished to speak was controversial and that the SO under which she was permitted to speak does not allow statements on controversial issues.
Despite these challenges to Selman’s claim though, House Speaker Raphael Trotman allowed her to continue, although she was cautioned that her presentation ought to be based on her feelings, not those of her party. Throughout Selman’s statements Teixeira and Shadick could be heard laughing and taunting.
Following Selman’s presentation both Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Manickchand, rose to offer responses, although there was some confusion as to who would go first. PPP/C MP Manzoor Nadir also rose with the intention of making a presentation, saying that he was personally aggrieved by Selman’s presentation.
APNU MP Basil Williams, however, reminded him that the Standing Orders do not allow the National Assembly to debate personal explanations. But Nadir insisted that he was personally aggrieved and asked for permission to respond to Selman, while Shadick argued that government was not trying to debate Selman, but answer her. Ultimately, Trotman decided against Nadir’s pleas to answer Selman.
Manickchand was the first to rise to speak but she deferred to Rodrigues-Birkett after she indicated interest in speaking. Rodrigues-Birkett, though, decided to defer to Manickchand since her actions were the main focus of Selman’s presentation.
Video – Part 1
Manickchand, however, said she would defer to Rodrigues-Birkett, again, as Selman’s statement also addressed the portfolio of the Foreign Affairs Minis-ter, which Rodrigues-Birkett holds. Eventually, Manickchand agreed to speak but sought Trotman’s assurance that Rodrigues-Birkett would also be allowed to speak to defend her portfolio. After Trotman refused to give such an assurance, Manickchand brushed him off with a flick of her wrist and proceeded to give her presentation.
Video – Part 2
Manickchand told the National Assembly that as a sovereign nation Guyana does not have to seek to please any other jurisdiction. She also said that with her actions on July 2nd, she fulfilled the mandate given to government by the people of Guyana. At this point APNU MP and Chief Whip Amna Ally was heard asking, “Who mandated you to do that?”
Video – Part 3
Manickchand said Hardt’s interference in Guyana’s politics was undiplomatic, and that in so doing he violated the Guyana Constitution and the Vienna Convention. She further stated that government is of the view that Hardt’s speech at a previous reception called for insurrection, and that he overstepped boundaries with statements made about President Ramotar and PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee. At this point, Ally started a series of dry boos, as Manickchand persisted with her presentation. Meanwhile, Manickchand noted that Alliance for Change MP Moses Nagamootoo requested that she shut up, and remarked that she was not surprised he made such an utterance.
Video – Part 4
As Manickchand continued with her presentation the booing started by Ally gained momentum as her fellow opposition Parlia-mentarians joined in. Manickchand was almost inaudible throughout the latter part of her speech as a result of the pervasive booing. Eventually she finished her speech and the Speaker announced that Rodrigues-Birkett would not be allowed to speak.
