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National Assembly resumes sittings…Opposition drowns out Rohee
Chants of “Rohee must go” by the opposition-led National Assembly last evening drowned out Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, from getting involved in the business of the House, when sittings of the House re-commenced after a two-month break.
Rohee was listed to present for a first reading the Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2012, but the opposition slammed the government for continuing to employ Rohee even though the National Assembly has passed a “no confidence” motion against him.
The government remains defiant, with President Donald Ramotar not acting on the “no confidence” motion that called for the dismissal of Rohee.
Minister Clement Rohee reacts as the opposition chants “Rohee must go.”
After lengthy arguments by both sides of the House, the Speaker said he was not clear on whether he could prevent or encourage a Member of the House from presenting a Bill. With no agreement on both sides, Minister Rohee rose to present the Bill, but he was drowned out by the chants of “Rohee must go.”
The Clerk then rose to read the Bill, as is customary once it is presented, but the opposition Parliamentarians sought clarity on whether the Bill was read as being presented by Rohee, since they did not hear him reading it.
The Speaker clarified that he had instructed the Clerk to present the Bill, because the rule allows the Clerk to present a Bill on behalf of the government. The Speaker said he had sought legal advice on what powers he has in such cases.
Before the Bill was read, Opposition Leader David Granger argued that it would be a “damage to our parliamentary democracy” if Rohee was allowed to present the Bill.
He said that the National Assembly must not allow its efforts to be disregarded and to be described as “a waste of time” and “as the most reckless in history.”
Granger said that the decision of the House to pass a “no confidence” motion against Rohee has been the subject of contempt, and vilification, and the House “must demonstrate the seriousness of its debate and decision making.”
“We took a decision and we must not allow ourselves to be the victims of a pattern of intimidation and spurious challenges,” Granger charged.
He said that if the House has made a decision, that decision must be honoured.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall argued that Minister Rohee was appointed by President Donald Ramotar and therefore the House cannot determine his further employment as a government Minister.
Further, he said that the matter of the “no confidence” motion is before the courts and so the National Assembly should not prejudice those proceedings.
APNU Parliamentarian, Basil Williams, disagreed with Nandlall on the appointment of Rohee as Minister. He said that the question of censuring Rohee is solely the jurisdiction of the National Assembly.
Williams said that the matter of the government “running to the courts” when the House has legitimately exercised its right, must stop.
AFC Member of Parliament Khemraj Ramjattan added weight to the opposition’s argument, saying the decision ought to be respected, and the government must desist from its “arrogance” on the matter.
He said that the usual thing in Commonwealth democracies is for the Minister to do the honourable and decent thing and leave office, but Minister Rohee is paying absolutely no heed to the decision of the House.
Government Chief Whip Gail Teixeira warned the opposition that if they insist on the matter they will “eat crow in this House.”
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