MEMBER of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Winston Felix, yesterday raised a ‘question without notice’ in the National Assembly relating to the conduct of Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, and his involvement in an accident on Sunday evening.

However, Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman, after conferring with the Clerk of the House, Sherlock Isaacs, noted that the question was in contravention of the Standing Orders that guide the proceedings of the House.
Trotman allowed the question to be put to the House, as he did not have an opportunity to be briefed on its content, as is the regular procedures for ‘question without notice’.
The Speaker allowed this on the basis of the understanding that if the question was inappropriate it will not be entertained for a response.

SPECIFIC MOTION
He explained that no Member of Parliament (MP) could question the conduct of a colleague MP, unless it is via a specific motion.
Felix referred to reports in the local media but was told that a question premised on statements in the media or statements from private citizens cannot be fielded in the House under ‘questions without notice’.
The APNU member queried whether or not government MPs were “exempt” from the rule of law.
This comment attracted a point of order, which was raised by Government Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, who noted that questions without notice are confined to the relevance of the sitting’s business for the day.
“It is a general comment,” she said, “I believe we are stretching the practices of this House into realms of unacceptability.”
Teixeira maintained that the Standing Orders are clear.
The Speaker took on board her comment and reiterated that on the basis of his explanations the question should not be answered.

(By Vanessa Narine)