People’s National Congress Reform-One Guyana (PNCR-1G) Parliamentarian, Deborah Backer, has been granted leave by the National Assembly to question, through her counsel, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, the mover of a motion citing her for contempt of the House.

Dr Singh on October 22 last year moved the motion in the National Assembly in response to remarks made by Backer against the army on the October 15 sitting of the House.

Dr Singh had informed the National Assembly that Backer, in her presentation on a motion on the deployment of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) personnel to Trinidad for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, suggested that the soldiers were going there to torture the people.

He contended that the PNCR-1G Parliamentarian’s statements cast aspersions on the hard working men and women of the armed forces who serve their country as well as the region when called upon.

The minister emphasised that Backer’s unfortunate remarks must be harshly condemned and called on Members of the House to unanimously signal their disapproval of her offensive uttering.

The issue was examined by Speaker of the House Ralph Ramkarran who found that a prima facie has been made against Backer and referred the matter to the Committee of Privileges which takes disciplinary action against members of the body.

Backer, on November 25, 2009, appeared before the Committee of Privileges and inquired of her right directly or through counsel to question Dr Singh who was also a seconder of the motion.

On December 15, she was informed by the Clerk of the National Assembly by way of letter that in order to question Dr Singh, the minister either directly or through counsel would be required to table a motion requesting leave of the House to do so.

The National Assembly, being the highest court of the land, is duty bound to adhere to the tenets of natural justice which dictates that an accused person be given an opportunity to question his or her accuser.

It is within this context, that the PNCR-1G Member has been granted leave by the House to question Dr. Singh, the mover of the motion which cited her for contempt of the National Assembly.