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Govt. set to defy Parliamentary Resolution directing NICIL probe
…AFC streamlines Disciplinary Action in Committee of Privileges
By Gary Eleazar
The Guyana Government will not be adhering to the Parliamentary Resolution being sought by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
Carl Greenidge’s motion on National Assets, in particular those controlled by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), is seeking to have Parliament approve a Resolution directing the Ministers of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and Bishop Juan Edghill to make monies available from the coffers for an independent audit of NICIL.
The Parliamentary Resolution is also designed to direct Dr. Singh and Edghill to hand over forthwith, a number of pertinent records and policies on the state assets that have been disposed of/sold by the Government through NICIL.
That debate is currently on hold but this publication has been reliably informed that the Ministers and Guyana Government has no intention of adhering with the Parliamentary Resolution.
This publication was told by a senior government functionary that there is absolutely nothing that compels the Government to abide with the Parliamentary Resolution.
In anticipation of this move by the Government, the Alliance for Change (AFC) is already streamlining disciplinary measures.
The party’s Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, has indicated that should Ministers Dr. Singh or Juan Egdhill fail to adhere to the Resolution to probe NICIL then he will immediately move with a proposition calling for disciplinary action at the level of the Committee of Privileges.
House Speaker Raphael Trotman has already indicated that it would be a ‘wait and see’ situation as it relates to the Government’s adherence of the Parliamentary Resolution.
Trotman had said that adherence to the Resolution will indeed test the ‘efficacy and legitimacy’ of the 10th Parliament.
Trotman told this publication that, “I can’t speak specifically to any single motion, but the Parliament is the highest forum of the land and its Resolutions ought to be respected and adhered to by all.”
The Speaker argues that the Parliament is ‘quasi-judiciary’ and as such the rules of the House are meant to be adhered to.
The Guyana Government, through Dr. Singh and Chief Spokesman Dr. Roger Luncheon, has already publicly indicated an unwillingness to entertain an independent probe of NICIL.
Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh
This is not deterring Greenidge’s quest, despite hitting a snag.
On Wednesday last, which was the day set aside for the Business of Non-Governmental parties in the National Assembly, Greenidge put up his motion for debate.
That debate was halted at 22:00hrs that night given that there was no consensus on proceeding further and it would be completed the following day.
This is yet to be realized.
The following day, Thursday, which was set aside for Government’s Business, went late into the evening with the House adjourning still to complete the debate and vote on its involvement into the affairs of NICIL.
Wednesday evening’s session had ended with the Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh still making his presentation and arguing that Guyanese should be proud of NICIL and Brassington.
On Thursday, the day set aside for Government Business: Financial Paper #9 was voted down by the Opposition; all supported a motion extending sympathies to the family of a fallen Comrade, Dr. Moti Lall as well as debate the Prime Minister’s Motion, “encouraging” members to submit their declarations to the Integrity Commission.
This did not leave time for the Finance Minister to wrap up his presentation to the debate nor for Carl Greenidge of APNU to respond.
Following this yet to be completed aspect of the debate on NICIL, the House will vote on whether to make arrangements for monies to be provided for an independent financial probe of NICIL as well as give the Minister three weeks to turn over all of the documentation requested among other demands.
Greenidge has premised his demand with the fact that “Guyanese are concerned about the widely reported acts of lawlessness in the guardianship of our national resources and assets as well as the lack of transparency and accountability associated with the disposal of those assets.”
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