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Rohee’s participation in Parliament is Government’s political risk —Moses Nagamootoo
By Rehanna Ramsay
“The ruling by Chief Justice Ian Chang affirms that as an elected Member of Parliament, Rohee could not be gagged. I share this opinion and, indeed, no one objected or protested when Rohee voted on issues, which is a form of speech in Parliament.
“Whether he could speak as Home Affairs Minister in the face of the no-confidence motion touching and concerning his discharge of that portfolio is another matter,” said Alliance for Change (AFC) Executive Member Moses Nagamootoo.
Moses Nagamootoo
His comments came in response to last Friday’s ruling by Chief Justice Ian Chang on the no confidence motion against Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.
The AFC Member of Parliament added that while Rohee may speak, the Parliamentary opposition will not hear him or act upon any thing he may say, which is a political risk for the government.
“When Rohee was not in play, we saw less rancour and greater cooperation amongst the parties.” Nagamootoo said.
His advice to Government is, “Rohee could aid these positive vibes by staying under wraps until the Privileges Committee disposes of the contention.”
“As for the APNU motion for an inquiry into violence during 2004 and 2010, we feel that it focuses on a period when Guyana experienced the greatest danger of becoming a narco-state. However, any meaningful probe must be wider and ought to begin from the immediate post independence period. It must include rigged elections, attacks on press freedom, political violence and House of Israel thuggery, etc.”
“Most of all, a comprehensive inquiry must help to bring healing, after the example of South Africa. It is late in the day but we need light to shine on our divisive past of almost 50 years of PNC-PPP rule, and our version of a Truth Commission may help.”
In his ruling the Chief Justice described the motion against Rohee as faulty and unconstitutional. He explained that on the matter of pure law, Rohee has the right to speak as an elected Member of the National Assembly. He noted that Rohee’s position as Minister of Home Affairs is irrelevant to the matter.
The main opposition parties had argued that Rohee was incompetent for the position of Home Affairs Minister, citing his lack of administrative skills on the basis of national security following the deaths of three Lindeners during protest action on July 19, 2012 in the mining Town allegedly at the hands of rank of the security force.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall, on November 27, 2012 moved to the High Court to dispute the legitimacy of the no confidence motion against Minister Rohee.
In doing so, the Minister also challenged Opposition Leader David Granger and the Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman who had placed a temporary bar on the Minister until the issue was resolved by the House’s Privileges committee.
The Opposition parties have made it clear that they do not intend to recognize Rohee in the National Assembly as the Minister of Home Affairs. Just last week when Opposition Member of Parliament, Winston Felix, questioned the Prime Minister in the Assembly about the new Security Strategy and the Prime Minister said that Rohee would have to answer, Felix refused to ask any question of the Home Affairs Minister.
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