The energy levels in the House of Representatives yesterday were as high as though MPs had never spent two days in the cold temperatures of the Parliament Chamber last weekend. Regardless of the fact that Government won last week's no-confidence debate, the Opposition was firing on all cylinders yesterday, peppering PP House leader Roodal Moonilal and Attorney General Anand Ramlogan with questions.
Not even PP's Anil Roberts got leeway to complete a lengthy statement even though he tried galloping through it. "This is not a parlour-this is the Parliament!" Roberts managed to yelp as a chorus of pro-testing PNM voices drowned out the tail end of his delivery. Robert's boss, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, missed the entire show.
Attending a Caricom meeting in Suriname, whether by accident or design, Persad-Bissessar showed the mettle of female power on the day marking International Wo-men's Day, by backing new Jamaican leader Portia Miller Simp- son on a West Indies Cricket Board issue-an interesting twist to have the two female leaders lobby for transformation of a sector where players are male-dominated.
Volney, Fuad for UNC deputy leader...
Persad-Bissessar was scheduled to return home last night and head for the Parliament which continued debate late. She is coming home in time for tomorrow's close of submission of nominees for her party's March 24 executive election. Yesterday UNC vice chairman Fuad Khan said his San Juan constituency had approached him to contest one of the three deputy leadership posts.
"But I'll make up my mind on Sunday" (deadline), he told TG. Also expected to announce a bid for deputy leader are Justice Minister Herbert Volney and Sunil Ramjitsingh, who had worked with the Jack Warner camp, UNC officials said. UNC's deputies are Roodal Moonilal and Suruj Rambacand, both expected to defend their posts. Third deputy Lyndira Oudit said recently she had not made up her mind. Sources said if she did not contest that post she may consider the vice chairmanship.
However, UNC officials feel contenders for the post of deputy have a better chance since there are three such posts and only one each of other executive positions. Several people from Volney's St Joseph are also expected to contest posts, UNC officials added. Several incumbents including chairman Warner are defending their positions.
However, UNC founder Basdeo Panday-ousted as leader in 2010 -said the slate he is advising will put up a candidate for the chairmanship. Panday also said, "Our slate will be announced after the deadline for submissions. I think people recognise the need for change, (but ) I also sense an enormous feeling of fear of victimisations in this society and particularly for this election.
"I can tell you of a girl who was fired from her job at Housing simply for allegedly being seen at one of our meetings. People voted for change and are now living in fear of victimisation if they link up with Generation Next." Asked whether this has impacted on the calibre of candidate his GN has obtained, Panday said, "People will have to judge. But we're focused on removing the party from the Government hold. If they continue with their clutches the way they have, it won't last long."
Incumbent UNC chairman Warner, who submitted his nomination last week, has been invited by the MSJ to tour Laventille, Warner's adviser said yesterday. The tour may particularly spotlight the MSJ which is expected to make a decision by tomorrow- close of UNC's nominee submission process-on OWTU jefe Ancel Roget's call for the MSJ to leave the Partnership.
In the wake of Labour Minister Errol McLeod's recent success-and an increase in his personal political stocks-by resolving the Petrotrin strike issue, Persad-Bissessar afforded McLeod the opportunity to act as Prime Minister during her absence this week. MSJ leader David Abdulah had told TG on Monday that the party needed to carefully discuss Roget's call to leave the Partnership before making any statement.
Yesterday an MSJ spokesman said more discussions were going on in MSJ on the issue, considering how weighty the topic was and the party is "trying to work through the matter." They acknowledged the implications of the situation that could arise if MSJ left the Partnership-loss of one of the five partners and possible collapse-and also if MSJ stayed in view of the fact that the MSJ has mainly labour support.
PNM celebrates...
After shooting questions at the Government yesterday regarding the Prime Minister's recent India trip, Opposition Leader Keith Rowley received a retort from PP's Moonilal that India was not cheap -a fact he would know since Rowley was heading there soon, Moonilal said. Rowley, who leaves tomorrow, will be gone for several weeks.
(Nobody in the Opposition was saying if he was being briefed on protocol how to greet, or if to bow to any Indian officials.)
Ahead of his departure, the Opposition took the time on Monday to have a small "celebration" of sorts at the Opposition office following its parliamentary performance on last week's no-confidence motion debate, PNM officials said. Both PNM and Government may not have much to crow over, though, since the debate-after the first couple frontline speakers-petered out. "Bombshells" lacked fire and backup support of information in some cases, on both sides.
During closing stages of the debate, PP's Warner tried a divide- and-conquer ploy when he claimed PNM's Colm Imbert produced more valid revelations than Rowley. Quite a few MPs also used the occasion to restore their political credibility. PNM's Donna Cox fired a couple shots at Warner- whom some in her party felt she was too close to-and PNM's Marlene McDonald did the same with other members. Warner also spared no one on the PNM side.
While the Government may have some quarters busy with follow-up on some of the revelations the Opposition produced, in the PNM fall-out, Port-of-Spain Mayor Louis Lee Sing came close to being a victim of the debate following the airing of his written concerns about the motion.
PNM officials said some people had wanted Lee Sing to be disciplined or removed as mayor. However, the issue was pacified at PNM's central executive meeting where it was agreed it would stand down Some PNMites feel Lee Sing may get a verbal clout at PNM's upcoming general council. But PNM chairman Franklyn Khan said, "We've met Louis and sorted out the misunderstandings and misconceptions and we're back on even keel. We want to compliment the intervention of the leader."