If three more PP?MPs do the same as St Joseph Herbert Volney did-and are as unpredictable-the coalition Government may be unable to pass special-majority bills in Parliament, says former PNM whip Colm Imbert. Imbert commented on Volney's move away from the PP whip yesterday. PNM?whip Marlene McDonald was ill, he said.
Noting that Volney was one of 29 PP?MPs, Imbert said, "It's clear Mr Volney is unhappy, as he said he left his good, secure job on the Bench to enter politics on the understanding he'd be a Cabinet minister, and now he finds himself no longer a judge and no longer a Cabinet minister. So as he says, the rules have changed. "Hence, the reason why he no longer feels obligated to support the Government blindly, and as he said, will do whatever he feels is appropriate.
"The problem, is one never knows if Volney is coming or going, as he's unpredictable. "Moreover, this indicates dissension in the PP ranks and that must indeed be a problem for the Prime Minister." Imbert said, "Also of greater concern to them, probably, would be the fact that in a situation where they need 26 MPs to pass special-majority bills, if three more MPs (or COP?MPs) do like Volney, or four COP MPs go independent, the Government will be unable to pass special-majority bills, since they need 26 votes."
Imbert and other PNM?officials said the situation was slightly different from when current leader Keith Rowley was fired from Cabinet in 2008 and was on the PNM?back bench. While Rowley spoke out against PNM policies, he never officially removed himself from under the PNM?whip, though there were communication problems between him and PNM?officials with planning for certain debates.