SPEAKER of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman ruled yesterday that the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges will not be convened to address issues relating to the no-confidence motion tabled by the Opposition against Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall in the National Assembly
Trotman stated that he had asked the court to interpret the limits to extend responsibilities, rights and the relationship among the National Assembly, the Executive and the Judiciary and has subsequently chosen not to extend the Committee of Privileges.
At the November 22 sitting of the National Assembly, Trotman had ruled that while the issues surrounding the no-confidence motion would be sent to the Committee, the minister would be barred from presenting or debating any legislation in the House in his name.
Speaker Raphael Trotman
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, subsequently moved to the High Court seeking to have the ruling declared, “unlawful, unconstitutional, ultra vires and without any legal or factual base, and therefore the Privileges Committee has no jurisdiction to deal with or determine any issue remitted to it”.
The AG’s motion to the court also seeks to have an order directing the Speaker to permit Minister Rohee to, not only perform his functions as an elected member of the National Assembly, but also as an appointed Minister of the Government of Guyana pursuant to the Constitution and the Laws of Guyana.
