-Government says Motion was out of line
People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Member of Parliament (MP), Deborah Backer has failed in her bid last Thursday to defend herself via interrogating Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, against charges of contempt that are pending before the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges.
People’s Progressive Party (PPP) MP and Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, in his presentation in the National Assembly, said Backer had no right to submit a Motion of that nature and urged that the House rule in favour of its dismissal.
“The mover of the motion is not entitled whether by herself or counsel, to cross-examine the Minister and I would move that this House refuses any discretion favouring her to do so,” he said.
PPP MP, Anil Nandlall defended against claims made by the Opposition that the Motion which referred Backer before the Committee of Privileges, should not have been taken before the National Assembly by the Finance Minister, since it was prompted by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.
He explained that the Motion was tabled by Minister Singh since he was the most senior functionary of the House at that point in time when the Prime Minister was performing the duties of President.
Nandlall noted that the fact that an application had to be made to the Parliament to seek the permission of the National Assembly fortifies the contention that Backer was out of her jurisdiction in her bid to question Minister Singh.
“This House is resided with a discretionary power, whether or not to permit cross-examination in these circumstances,” he said.
PPP MP, Gail Teixeira emphasised that the determination of whether or not privileges were breached should be sought through the role of the Committee of Privileges not through the interrogation of the Minister.
She noted that it was a matter of principle and that the Motion to cite Backer on charges of contempt was based on the Hansard and as such, cross-examination of the Minister will also be questioning the validity of the official records of the Parliament.
Teixeira asserted that Backer’s Motion is a total conundrum to undermine the work of the Committee.
Referring the unfortunate statements purported by Backer that led to the entire situation, Texeira said that “we must guard the freedom of speech and act with responsibility as elected officials of this country.”
The matter arose from the debate of a motion on the October 15 sitting, tabled by Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, which sought to deploy 90 ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to provide security support to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held in November 2009.
In her argument, Backer questioned whether Guyanese soldiers were going to Trinidad and Tobago “to torture people.”
In agreeing to refer Backer to the Committee of Privileges on charges of contempt of the National Assembly, members of the Government’s side have expressed the view that her offensive statement casts aspersions on the thousands of hardworking young Guyanese men and women who serve with distinction in the disciplined forces and their families and, by extension, is an affront to the Guyanese people.
When the National Assembly considered the motion to refer Backer to the Committee of Privileges, Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran ruled in favour of proceeding with a motion which signalled unanimous disapproval of the said statement purportedly made by Backer. At that time, the Speaker also made a pronouncement that a prima facie case had been established against Backer, thereby, clearing the way for the matter to be taken before  the Committee of Privileges.
Backer’s Motion was also supported by Alliance for Change (AFC) member, Raphael Trotman. However, when it was time to vote on the Motion, a division was called. This resulted in 26 votes for the Motion by the Opposition and 30 against it by the Government.
Government has always recognised that Guyana is at one purpose with her Caribbean sister states, that is to guarantee the well-being of all Caribbean citizens
Earlier last year, 66 GDF ranks as well as 31 from the GPF were deployed to Trinidad and Tobago for the Fifth Summit of The Americas. During this deployment, Director of Security for the Summit, Trinidadian, Lt Colonel Kenrick Maharaj was quoted as describing Guyana’s support as “invaluable”.  (GINA)