THE Parliamentary Committee of Privileges meeting set for Friday was adjourned due to the lack of a quorum, which defers the fate of Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Bishop Juan Edghill.

The committee is now set to meet next Thursday, November 15.
The committee needs at least three of the eight members to be present for a quorum;

however only two were present yesterday: Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, and Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland
The committee, headed by Scotland, was expected to conclude consideration of whether Edghill violated any of the Standing Orders, Customs, Practices and or Conventions of the National Assembly during remarks he made in 2015 regarding the salary increases for members of the government.

In May 2016 a motion was tabled by government MP, Charrandas Persaud for Edghill to go before the Committee of Privileges for statements made by Edghill in the National Assembly that were deemed inaccurate by the government side.

Edghill in December, 2015, told the National Assembly that the increases given to government ministers totalled over $200M annually. Persaud in his motion rejected Edghill’s claim, saying that the statement misrepresented the salary increases allotted to the governing side. He also took note of the opposition MP’s refusal to withdraw the “inaccurate” statement, thereby reportedly violating his privileges and standing orders.

Edghill had moved a motion requesting that the salary increases paid to government ministers be annulled. However, the motion was voted down by the government side.

The committee, which also comprises representatives from both sides of the House, will determine what sanctions are available to the National Assembly of Guyana.