Let AFC have the Speakership
January 4, 2012 | By KNews | Filed Under Letters
Dear Editor,
The two most important positions for the opposition in the current parliament are: (1) the Leader of the Opposition and (2) the Speakership.
Both positions carry the salary and benefits of a Minister of Government.
In the scheme of things APNU on its own would only be entitled to the position of Leader of the Opposition with its 26 seats.
The AFC on its own would be entitled to nothing. But, those seven seats that the AFC has is what has given the combined opposition the numerical strength to be entitled to the Speakership.
Further if APNU wants a long-term collaboration with the AFC to keep the Government in check and to correct some of the past excesses then as a matter of principle the Speakership should be given to the AFC.
It seems unfair that APNU should seek to benefit from both these positions.
Otherwise the three parties go it alone, the PPP with its 32 seats gets the speakership and the opposition parties collaborate only on a case by case basis in the Parliament.
Ms. Backer and Mr. Ramsaroop are no more qualified for the position of Speaker than Mr. Nagamootoo. All three are Attorneys-at-law and all have parliamentary experience of varying degrees.
The converse of the argument propounded by APNU is more likely to be true with respect to Mr. Nagamootoo. Having just contributed in a major way to the loss of an out-right majority by the PPP, he is more likely than not, not to lean towards them but to hold the scales evenly.
Fairplay dictates that the AFC should get the position of Speaker.
Analyst
Source
January 4, 2012 | By KNews | Filed Under Letters
Dear Editor,
The two most important positions for the opposition in the current parliament are: (1) the Leader of the Opposition and (2) the Speakership.
Both positions carry the salary and benefits of a Minister of Government.
In the scheme of things APNU on its own would only be entitled to the position of Leader of the Opposition with its 26 seats.
The AFC on its own would be entitled to nothing. But, those seven seats that the AFC has is what has given the combined opposition the numerical strength to be entitled to the Speakership.
Further if APNU wants a long-term collaboration with the AFC to keep the Government in check and to correct some of the past excesses then as a matter of principle the Speakership should be given to the AFC.
It seems unfair that APNU should seek to benefit from both these positions.
Otherwise the three parties go it alone, the PPP with its 32 seats gets the speakership and the opposition parties collaborate only on a case by case basis in the Parliament.
Ms. Backer and Mr. Ramsaroop are no more qualified for the position of Speaker than Mr. Nagamootoo. All three are Attorneys-at-law and all have parliamentary experience of varying degrees.
The converse of the argument propounded by APNU is more likely to be true with respect to Mr. Nagamootoo. Having just contributed in a major way to the loss of an out-right majority by the PPP, he is more likely than not, not to lean towards them but to hold the scales evenly.
Fairplay dictates that the AFC should get the position of Speaker.
Analyst
Source
