Silence in the House as…Bills to reform local govt. deferred again

Jul 19, 2013 News

The opening session of a critical sitting of the National Assembly, yesterday, was one characterized by an unusual silence, as the Government refused to participate after the Opposition successfully suspended proposed legislation for local government reforms.
The Opposition’s move to have the Fiscal Transfer Bill of 2012; the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill of 2012; the Local Government (Amendment) Bill of 2012 and the Local Government Commission Bill of 2012, dealt with later in the sitting, raised questions from the Government side as to whether the rules of the House could allow it.
The bills had been lingering for a while now in a Special Select Committee of Parliament for changes to be made before it was returned to National Assembly. There have been an increasing number of calls for local government elections to be held at the soonest, with even the diplomatic community chipping in.
According to Government’s Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, the Opposition in pushing back the debate of the Bills was guilty of attempting to disrupt the proceedings and violate the Government’s right to bring its business.
Describing it as a very serious matter, Teixeira said that it is unheard of in any Parliament for Government business, without acquiescence, to be “eroded” in this manner. She made it clear that the matter is not about the local government Bills. Rather, it is a dangerous move.
However, House Speaker Raphael Trotman interrupted, noting that while the move by the Opposition can be viewed as “unpalatable”, “distasteful” and “unprecedented”, it is allowed under Parliament’s Standing Orders, once the Speaker gives the leave.
Soon after, when it came time for the Bills to be considered, the Government’s Local Government Minister, Ganga Persaud, remained seated and silent.
A recess for a meeting between members of the Opposition and the Government-side failed to arrive at a consensus.
The 10th Parliament, since the 2011 General Elections, has been struggling to find its footing after the Opposition gained a one-seat majority in the National Assembly, the highest law-making forum there.
The national budget has been cut twice in the past two years with several Bills, tabled by both sides, still in limbo.
The Opposition, comprising A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC), has withheld almost $30B in funding to key projects.
The Opposition has been demanding more transparency, and the Government has been moving to release more information on the projects, even taking Members of Parliament to project sites.

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Silence in the House as…Bills to reform local govt. deferred again

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