HOME Affairs Minister Mr. Clement Rohee has welcomed the commitment given by Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Raphael Trotman, to convene a meeting of the Parliamentary Security Oversight Committee.Last week, Trotman, who is tasked with convening a meeting of the Oversight Committee, told the Guyana Chronicle that this will be done before the House goes into recess in August.
Rohee, in an invited comment on Monday, said he did “see something in the press this morning in effect to the speaker. He has committed to reconvening a meeting of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee into the security sector before parliament goes into recess. I was pleased to see that.”

However, Rohee said he “still hold the view that that body is an extremely important body, where all the parliamentary bodies can sit and discuss matters of policy, in respect to the security sector, make recommendations in respect to the security sector, and invite experts for views on the various aspects of the security sector.”
The Home Affairs Minister added that the heads of the joint services should also be invited when the Committee meets to field questions and suggest recommendations relative to the advancement of the sector.
“I think that our country needs that kind of body. These are the types of institutional bodies…that we need to help give effect to good governance in our country,” Rohee said.
Since the commencement of the 10th Parliament, the combined Opposition has tabled numerous questions on the security sector and moved a few motions demanding the appointment of Commissions of Inquiry (COIs) to investigate alleged breaches in the sector.
Additionally, former Attorney-General (AG) Doodnauth Singh in 2009 tabled the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2009 in the National Assembly.
The Bill was intended to amend the Constitution by inserting a new Article 119 D, providing for a Standing Committee called the ‘Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Security Sector’, which would have responsibility for the policies and administration of the country’s disciplined forces.
The move was in keeping with an agreement made by National Stakeholders during security consultations in March last year. The original recommendation was made by a Special Select Committee reviewing the report of the Disciplined Forces Commission. The issue had also been the subject of discussion at the level of the Parliamentary Management Committee.
There are currently four sectoral committees responsible for economic services, social services, natural resources and foreign relations.

(By Vanessa Narine )