The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) last evening accused government of attempting to muzzle its parliamentarians by limiting the time they have to speak and ignoring convention by placing Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo to wrap up the opposition side of the debate before four government ministers.
In a statement, the party accused government Chief Whip Amna Ally of being “desirous of breaching entrenched parliamentary conventions and practices whereby the Leader of the Opposition closes the debate for the opposition benches, immediately before the member of the government closes the debate.”
The statement said that this convention was respected throughout the 23 years of the PPP/C administrations, whereby successive Leaders of the Opposition, the late Desmond Hoyte, Robert Corbin and now President David Granger always spoke immediately before the government minister who closed the annual budget debate and “where neither person was constrained by time limits.”
However, the party said, in the 11th Parliament, the government wants to place Jagdeo to speak before four government speakers and not as the penultimate speaker, with a restriction of 45 minutes.
The PPP/C condemned “the well-orchestrated efforts by the APNU+AFC Coalition to muzzle” Jagdeo and opposition MPs “fullest participation” in the 2015 National Budget debate. “Despite attempts by the PPP/C MPs, the Opposition Members of Parliament have been reduced to 15 minutes with no extension,” the statement said.
Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Barton Scotland had emphasised yesterday that he was enforcing time limits as the parties had agreed. The issue was raised by PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira after the Speaker reminded PPP/C parliamentarian Harry Gill of the time limit.
The Speaker noted that the parties had agreed on the time limits and further pointed out that this was not strictly enforced the previous day. Teixeira noted that the Standing Orders makes provisions for members to be given extra time. Gill was given extra time to complete his presentation.
In its statement, the PPP called on Guyanese “to take note of the government’s efforts to use these restrictions to prevent our MPs from exposing their uninspiring, recycled and underwhelming 2015 National Budget,” the statement said.
