THE fourth sitting of the Tenth Parliament in the National Assembly, tomorrow, will continue deliberations on matters of importance to the Opposition.

But those discussions will prevent, or at least delay, completion of consideration of Government’s pending and new issues that are of “unquestionable importance” to the country and its development, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon said yesterday.
Hosting his usual post-Cabinet media briefing at Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, in Georgetown, he said, at tomorrow’s session, the Opposition’s precedence has determined what goes on the Order Paper and what would be debated by Members of Parliament (MPs).
According to Luncheon, at the fourth sitting, the items on the Order Paper, typically, take precedence over Government’s business.
“I have, earlier, pointed out that, by their use of the one seat majority in the House, the Opposition has, essentially, overturned that convention and it is now doomed, as we dictate, fourth sitting or not,” he said.
Luncheon said Government regrets that House Speaker Raphael Trotman is “complicit in this unparliamentary practice” but continues to focus on Parliament and its role in charting the course of national development.
Meanwhile, the House is expected to continue deliberations on issues surrounding Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, former Presidents’ benefits, the past decade of “unexplained” killings, among other Opposition priorities.
Government plans to table, tomorrow, a Justice Sector Amendment Bill that would allow for appeals from High Court and Full Court rulings, an issue that Luncheon said has been resolved similarly with enactments in most of the Commonwealth democracies.