THE silence of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) front bencher Volda Lawrence, during last Thursday’s vote in Parliament on allocations for several sectors in a $3.38B Statement of Excess tabled by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, continues to attract comments.

But General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Mr. Clement Rohee, debunked speculation that “special considerations” were offered by the Government to secure Lawrence’s support for the allocations in the financial paper.
He said, at a press conference at the PPP’s Freedom House headquarters yesterday that: “I am not aware of anything like that as the Leader of the PPP and I can’t speak for the Government but, as a member of the Cabinet, I don’t think that that is true…this is just a red herring that people are trying to throw into the whole mystery.”

He emphasised that the ruling party “has nothing special to offer anybody” except for hard work on the ground to increase its support base.
Rohee continued: “If you want to come with us, to work with us, to offer to win votes on the ground…that’s all we have to offer.”
He refused to comment further on the speculation.
However, the General Secretary noted, too, that Opposition Leader David Granger, from remarks made to the media, seems to be taking the issue seriously.

AN INVESTIGATION
Last Friday, the Opposition Leader, at a press briefing, told the media that an investigation into the matter is under way.

At the time of the vote in Parliament on the Statement of Excess in the Committee of Supply, Lawrence had remained silent.
The vote on the specific allocations included for the Specialty Hospital when the APNU MP left the Assembly in haste, resulting in a one-seat win for the ruling party in having the allocation approved.
After the Committee of Supply approval of the financial paper, the House resumed sitting and the Finance Minister’s report of Lawrence’s vote saw it counted as an abstention.
But Granger said he was informed that she had been unwell while his personal observation was that she appeared distraught.
The Opposition Leader acknowledged that there were specific plans to vote along specified lines.
Granger was expected to meet with Lawrence on the matter.
However, according to an online news report, Lawrence said that by the time she could have received advice, on how to vote, from APNU Chief Whip Amna Ally, immediately on returning to the Chamber, she did not respond when her name was called.
The report added that Ally corroborated Lawrence’s account and also explained what had transpired.
Ally, reportedly, said: “Ms. Lawrence was sick. When she came in back, she didn’t catch herself until long after and she couldn’t speak. She was making signs to the Clerk…there was no sinister move, no deflection.”
The joint Opposition’s one-seat majority was affected by Lawrence’s vote, as well as the absence of other APNU MP Deborah Backer.

(Vanessa Narine)