The SKNLP parliamentary opposition is refusing to attend the sitting of the national parliament today Friday 18th November 2016. In a statement issued to Freedom Fm and other national media houses, the opposition says it strictly condemn the continued disrespect by the PAM/PLP/CCM government in deliberately refusing to communicate matters pertaining to parliament to the members of the opposition. The member of Parliament for #2, the Honorable Marcella Liburd read the statement on behalf of the SKNLP parliamentary opposition.
“This was the case on the appointment of former Speaker Franklyn Brand; on the resignation of former Speaker Brand; on the appointment of Speaker Perkins and most recently on the appointment of senator; and deputy Speaker Akilah Nisbett. In every case the Parliamentary Opposition learnt of these events either on the street or via the news.
The Parliamentary Opposition also strongly condemns the way Parliament is being abused by the PAM/PLP/CCM government and used for show and charade instead of for the serious debate of the people’s business. Today’s sitting of Parliament will be the second time that a sitting of Parliament is being convened with nothing to debate under the caption “Public Business” in clear breach of the Standing Orders.
The last sitting of Parliament was held three (3) months ago in the month of August. Since then we have seen an alarming escalation in crime and heard the increasing cries of the people under severe financial strain. The Public Accounts Committee has still not been established. Neither the Attorney General’s Chambers nor the Office of the Speaker has yet facilitated the establishment of the Public Office of The Leader of the Opposition which is provided for in the Constitution, and there is a conspicuous absence of any serious legislative agenda on the part of the government.
In the circumstances the convening of a sitting of the National Assembly merely to swear in a Deputy Speaker and without any debate of the public’s business is a travesty and a mockery of our democratic parliamentary system.
The Parliamentary Opposition has also learnt that the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Ms Jihan Williams, will be replaced during today’s sitting of the National Assembly. Again this has not been communicated to the members of the Opposition. But worse, it has not even been communicated to Ms Williams herself.
This is totally unacceptable to us in the Opposition. We have, therefore, taken a decision not to attend today’s sitting of Parliament as we see it as a show, a charade, a waste of taxpayers’ money, an abuse of our parliamentary system, blatant disregard for the people’s business, and an insult to the people of the Federation.”