Speaker powerless to rebuff Bills that violate the Law

Mar 08, 2010 News

…must be addressed in Court of Law – Ramkarran

Speaker of the National Assembly and Presidential hopeful, Ralph Ramkarran, last evening in a televised interview with eminent Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, said that he is powerless to disallow Bills that may violate or that are in breach of the Laws of Guyana.

According to Ramkarran, as long as the Bill or Motion proposed has satisfied the requirements of the Parliamentary Standing Orders, then it has to be allowed and debated.

Ramkarran was at the time appearing on the televised show ‘Plain Talk’ where Ram was at the time querying why he as Speaker of the House, would allow the Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, to present the requests for approvals for withdrawals from the contingencies fund, knowing, according to Ram that it was in violation of the Fiscal Management and Accountability (FMA) Act.

According to Ram, withdrawals have to be reported at the very next sitting of the House and this is not being done.

When asked if the Standing Orders should be amended to ensure that any Bill presented to the House be in compliance with the laws of Guyana before it is allowed, Ramkarran answered in the negative saying, “that then makes us into a court of law…we can’t determine matters of law in Parliament.”

Ramkarran contends that any violations of the FMA have to be dealt with in the Courts.

He asserted that if there

is a law that says that the Minister must report advances to the House on the very next sitting and this is not done then that issue has to be taken up in the Court.

“I have had arguments in parliament that bills are unconstitutional and I must reject the bill…how can I do these things? I am not a judge.”

Ramkarran was adamant that there must not be an overstepping of demarcation between the executive, legislative and judiciary.

“I have no power under the Standing Orders to throw out of the Parliament a request for appropriations because it is in violation of a particular law,” Ramkarran stated.

He added that if there are perceived violations of the law then it is up to the citizens of Guyana, “Members of the Opposition and Courts of Law.”

Ramkarran said that any citizen of Guyana could move to the courts against the perceived violations of any Law.

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