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An Opposition motion of no confidence in House Speaker Brigid Annisette-George will be shaping up for the next session of Parliament, following the mid-year recess.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar signalled this on Tuesday after taking issue with statements by the Speaker in during debate on the Anti-terrorism Bill. The bill was passed with Government and Opposition support.
During debate as Persad-Bissessar examined further amendments, the Speaker had noted a Parliamentary committee had met on the Bill and a unanimous report was done. She noted Persad-Bissessar’s repeated statements that Parliament processes weren’t a rubber stamp but said the situation (with the Bill) was almost tantamount to abuse of Parliament.
Persad-Bissessar protested but the Speaker said she was not accusing either side.
After the sitting, Persad-Bissessar said the Opposition wanted to find common ground on the Bill but could not deal with certain other aspects since the Speaker “had her own views.” She said she took strong objection to the Speaker’s view of “abuse” of the system.
Persad-Bissessar added, “How could this be abuse? The Standing Orders (regulations) of Parliament say you can have a JSC but must come back to the Parliament. It’s not the first time we’ve gone to a JSC and returned to the House to do amendments by both sides.”
“We’d considered a motion of no confidence in the Speaker and I think today’s lengthy comments by the Speaker deserves consideration by way of a motion of no confidence, that’s in the new session (of Parliament). It was bad throughout the session but today it was absolutely disgraceful.”
The current Third Session of Parliament ends in September and the Fourth Session begins subsequently.
Government House Leader Camille Robinson-Regis said the Speaker determined Parliamentary conduct.
“We know what the Opposition did, with further amendments, was an abuse of normal practice. Once a bill goes to a JSC, amendments in the JSC’s report are normally accepted,” she said.