House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George found herself in a bit of a Parliamentary spot yesterday, after the Government moved a motion for the speaking time of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to be extended by an hour.
The House regulates itself and when the Speaker put the motion to the vote, the Government, which controls the majority in the House, got its way. PM Rowley, who had already spoken for an hour on the Tobago Autonomy Bill, was allowed the additional hour requested.
The genesis of this started on Monday when the Leader of Government Business, Camille Robinson-Regis, moved to waive the Standing Orders, apparently without the Opposition’s support, for speaking times to be created outside of what applies under the standing orders.
The Opposition UNC yesterday accused the Government of being in breach of their own motion, a contempt of the Parliament and a flagrant breach of the practice and procedure of the Parliament. The UNC described it as “yet another dark day for our nation and our democracy, as the Parliament was reduced to a PNM circus.”
It is understandable and unfortunately even acceptable that in the cut and thrust of politics, picong and mauvais langue would happen. What should not be acceptable is that when issues arise, nothing is learned from them. It may well be that the House regulates its own proceedings, but there is nothing that prevents the Speaker from having a discussion with the Leader of Government Business and the Chief Whip to chart a course forward.
Yesterday, the Opposition walked out of the Parliament, not for the first time and perhaps not for the last. It is a tactic all opposition parties use. At the end of the day, the people who are impacted most are the ordinary folk, whose business it is the elected MPs are there to serve.
The unfolding drama yesterday took place as the Parliament was debating the Constitution Amendment Tobago Self-Government Bill and the companion bill which repeals the current Tobago House of Assembly Act.
The Constitution Amendment Bill requires a three-fourths majority for passage, which means the Government must get the Opposition’s support for the legislation to be passed.
The provisions contained in the legislation are critical to both Trinidad and Tobago and the future of our twin-island state. It is therefore imperative that in charting a way forward, there be some level of consultation, a give and take. Bickering and throwing words, as materialised during yesterday’s debate, are not always solutions to problems.
On this International Day of Parliamentarism, we urge Parliamentarians to recognise their job is in the interest of the people and not themselves. Unfortunately, Parliamentarians on both sides of the divide stand guilty of putting self before country unless and until they need our vote.
Today, in a bit of an historic development, both the Upper and Lower Houses will meet simultaneously on working bills. We hope good sense will prevail in the Lower House and that the interest of the people will take precedence, even if it means a small compromise is made.