MINISTER of Home Affairs Clement Rohee was, yesterday, once again prevented from speaking in the National Assembly, this time by Deputy Speaker Deborah Backer. Speaker Donald Trotman was not at the sitting.

The minister was listed to move the second reading of the Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2012 during yesterday’s sitting. However, in the absence of Speaker Raphael Trotman, Backer was adamant that she will not allow him to speak once she is presiding.
Additionally, Rohee was scheduled to move the first readings of the Evidence (Amendment) Bill and the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, which he was not allowed to do.
“I have indicated that in keeping with the ruling of the House, I will not entertain any introduction of any bills, while I’m presiding, by the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs,” Backer declared.
Nevertheless, she stated that as a matter of courtesy and a matter of right, she had indicated this to the government and the opposition parties prior to the commencement of yesterday’s sitting.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds responded, indicating that the government did not accept that position. He further noted that the Firearms (Amendment) Bill had already been put off for quite some time, which is usually indicated by an asterisk on the order paper.
“This bill in particular was asterisked for some time, it has been on asterisk, and we have before us an order paper which includes the two bills for first readings. It is our government’s strong view that the matter should have been proceeded with,” he asserted.
However, Backer, acting in the capacity of Speaker, said that while she respects the government’s position, she does not agree with it.
“I am not hindering, I am merely carrying out what I understand to be the decision of the majority of the House,” she contended.
Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman had allowed the Home Affairs Minister to speak in the National Assembly at the last sitting on February 7.
On this occasion, he was invited to address the House on the recent spate of serious crimes, but the opposition parties, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) walked out of the chamber after failing in their attempt to have the Speaker reverse his decision.
Speaker Raphael Trotman was not at the sitting yesterday as he was making the inaugural presentation at the Linden Media Forum in the mining community.