President under no legal obligation to address Parliament
PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar, is under no legal obligation to address the Parliament at its first sitting. Presidential Advisor on Governance, Ms Gail Teixeira, made this disclosure yesterday during the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing, when she addressed concerns raised over the fact that the Head of State will not be delivering an address at the opening of the 10th Parliament, tomorrow at 14:00 hrs.
She noted that the first sitting of the National Assembly will focus on selection of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House, and swearing-in of Members of Parliament.
“We must get through (with the) business of the House… There will be a ceremonial sitting where the President will address the House, and then, subsequent to that, will come the motion that is debated at a following sitting, based on the President’s Speech; and then the other issues,” she detailed.
She also took opportunity to announce that she would hold the post of Chief Whip for the Government side of the House, while Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, as usual, will be the Leader of the House.
Teixeira reiterated that the President’s proclamation on the convening of Parliament is in keeping with his constitutional mandate and the opposition parties’ request that he not convene Parliament in the month of December 2011.