By Ariana Gordon

THE opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Wednesday during the 36th sitting of the 11th Parliament objected to a motion tabled by Prime Minister and Leader of the House Moses Nagamootoo for the abbreviation of next Thursday’s sitting.The motion tabled by the Prime Minister and carried by the House, requested that the next sitting of the National Assembly being held on May 12th start at 1pm and end at 5pm to facilitate members of the House attending the opening of GUYEXPO.
“On that day, there is a mark to be held, a very important national event, which is of great importance to the mercantile and business community of Guyana, GUYEXPO, both big and small producers and enterprising manufacturers; and it is because of the importance that this government has placed on stimulating business activities in this country that we are asking to put this motion to grace this important national event,” said the Prime Minister.
He called on the Speaker of the House, Dr Barton Scotland, to suspend Standing Order 10 (1) and (2) to enable the proceedings to begin at 1pm and end at 5pm.
The motion tabled by the Prime Minister did not sit well with the opposition and Chief Whip Gail Teixeira did not hesitate to object.
She said she found it “rather unusual for such a motion to be put before the House. This motion looks innocuous,” the Chief Whip said with passion, while noting that the opposition’s issue with the motion is “a profound one.”
“The issue Sir, is a profound one because next sitting is the fourth sitting which is the opposition’s day, it is the Private Members Day — “she reminded members of the National Assembly.
Teixeira noted that government’s business should have precedence on every day except on every fourth sitting where private members’ business shall have precedence.
“So between August and January 21st we had our first Private Members Day… we have been preparing, sending in motions, questions on notice so that when it is our day we have our agenda,” said the Chief Whip, who noted that another reason for the motion being tabled is because President David Granger is expected to speak on May 12.
“I understand the President is expected to speak at the May 12 sitting and I have no problem with that. The President coming to speak is his right. He is the Head of Parliament, however, we have parliament and the opposition has its role to play,” she stated,
Teixeira noted too that what the opposition finds unacceptable is that on the day it has to make its presentations, a motion is tabled for the day to be shortened. She told the Speaker he is being blinded by the governing side.
“WE WANT OUR DAY”
“The members of this House are pulling wool over your eyes—it looks like an innocent thing but it isn’t. We want our day, we want our time…” she asserted.
Meanwhile, government’s Chief Whip Amna Ally made it clear that government is not being “unreasonable.” She said she had discussions with Teixeira and “brought her up to date with all our proposals and matters we believe we want to be done.”
Ally assured the House that should there be matters outstanding from May 12, during the next sitting, the opposition would have precedence to finish its matters.
“This very opposition can’t remember the many months they prorogued this parliament… we hold to what I told the opposition Chief Whip, if there are remaining matters on the [May] 12th those matters will take precedence on the following day.”
The government’s Chief Whip made it clear that government will not be bullied by the opposition. “We are the government and we will not allow you to tell us how to run the government.”
Teixeira requested that Ally provide the commitment to the House in writing. The Speaker of the House said the opposition will receive precedence to finish all matters outstanding on May 19.