The applause for COP MPs Winston Dookeran and Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan was long and loud on Tuesday night.That it came from Opposition PNM supporters at St James might have caused a double take by anyone who was unaware that both, hours earlier, had voted against their PP Government's constitutional reform legislation in Parliament .PNMites at Tuesday's meeting, chortling "Coalition collapse," saw reason to celebrate.
The consequences from the debate continued to flow yesterday, and seem likely to continue, until debate on the controversial bill in the Senate on August 26, with the COP figuring prominently throughout.
After the COP's call last Sunday to postpone the debate, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, obviously aware of potential political embarrassments ahead, saved (some) PP face by allowing a conscience vote. While the Government may have won the war on the bill with a successful 23-MP vote, it's perceived to have lost the unity battle thanks to the COP MPs' action.
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