Mace’s safe return to the House puts Speaker in embarrasing position
–raises serious questions about his true intent

PARLIAMENT’S ceremonial mace, symbol of authority of the office of Speaker of the National Assembly, has been returned to the Chambers.

This is according to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Sherlock Isaacs, who explained that it was removed for cleaning over the weekend. “It was a two-day process,” he told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday. “The Sergeant-at-Arms undertook the cleaning under my supervision, and it was returned to its rightful place today (yesterday),” he said.
Last Friday, House Speaker, Mr. Raphael Trotman, released a statement to the media saying that the mace had been stolen.
He said, “Today, on entering the Speaker’s Office, I discovered that the Mace, the symbol authority of the office of Speaker of the National Assembly, was removed from its usual place without my permission, knowledge or consent. The entire protective case in which the Mace is kept is also missing in its entirety.
“From time immemorial, the Mace is kept in the Speaker’s office, and is only removed by the Sergeant-at-Arms for use during Sittings, or for temporary viewing by guests on tour of the National Assembly.
“Upon making enquiries, no one could furnish a reasonable response or explanation as to its whereabouts. Staff members appeared afraid to provide an explanation.”
Trotman reportedly also lodged a formal complaint with the Commissioner-of-Police, Mr. Seelall Persaud.
However, the Clerk of the National Assembly debunked these claims, saying that while Trotman claims he made enquires about the mace’s whereabouts, he did not contact him on the matter.
As such, there have since been concerns that Trotman, who is also an Executive Member of the Alliance for Change (AFC), is stirring up unnecessary trouble, particularly given the recent brouhaha over whether he or the Central Government has the authority to call a Sitting of the National Assembly.
The House has not met since it came out of recess on October 10, and prior to going into its annual two-month recess on August 10, there had been no sitting since July 10. The Clerk of the National Assembly has maintained that the power to call a sitting under these circumstances lies with the Government, a position he and Trotman differ on.
Asked whether he believed that Trotman was bent on making trouble, Isaacs declined to comment. “No,” he said, “I would not want to comment on that.” .
Attempts to obtain a comment from the Speaker all day yesterday, up until press time, also proved futile.
When the National Assembly does resume, the hot-button issue up for consideration is the AFC- sponsored No-Confidence Motion brought against the current Administration.
President Donald Ramotar, on Saturday directed that steps be taken to convene a Sitting of the National Assembly within the next 14 days.
Additionally, the Government has reiterated its position that the convening of a sitting of the National Assembly must be done in accordance with the Standing Orders, and long-cherished parliamentary practices.
The Government had a number of pending legislative matters to be brought before the House prior to the annual recess. Further there are important financial papers relating to the development of the country and growth of the economy that need to be urgently addressed.