Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
May 14, 2016 News
By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
“Please, please sir I am appealing to you. Please do not do this,” said People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C)’s Gail Teixeira as she pleaded with House Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland, to allow her amendment to a motion in the National Assembly.
Ms Teixeira had tabled a motion that resolved to have the government lay the report of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (COI) in the National Assembly.
However, the motion was satisfied the day before Thursday’s sitting. Hours after the report was laid, Teixeira submitted an amendment. The amendment was to have the report sent to a Parliamentary Special Select Committee for further examination. However, the Speaker told Teixeira that her motion cannot be debated.
He said that according to his understanding of the Standing Orders, an amendment can only be offered after the question is put to pass the motion. But Teixeira maintained that her amendment was in order.
She said that it was imperative that the report be examined.
“This is a very emotional thing for me because my entire youth in this country was spent in that period when Walter Rodney and others fought for democracy in this country. After 36 years we now have a report that will be shelved. I am appealing sir, that there would be no harm done in sending this to a select committee.”
She said that examination of the report and its recommendation will help ensure that history is not repeated.
“We can only make sure it never happens again by looking at the recommendations to better the GDF
and police,” said Teixeira.
She added, “I generally quarrel and fight in this House; but, I generally defer to you as the Speaker or any Speaker of this House, but this particular issue of not allowing an amendment to this motion… I find it, I cannot say the word of how I feel because you will probably discipline me. But sir, I cannot comprehend why you would do this, it is unacceptable, sir and I am begging you to see… This will do no harm only for the betterment of this country sir.”
The Speaker thanked Teixeira for her submission but stuck to his guns.
Nagamootoo sought to weigh in but he was taking a line that the Speaker found unacceptable and asked that he discontinue. “I must interrupt, we are going beyond the narrow confines of the discussion I am permitting,” said Dr. Scotland.
The Speaker then told Teixeira that she would have to employ other methods to have her amendment addressed.
She “promised” to return to the House soon with another motion.
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