General Secretary Clement Rohee says PPP/C not interested in Deputy Speaker post

In the last government the PNC has the speaker and deputy speaker positions.

Why the PNC would now be interested for the opposition to have the deputy speaker's position?

Is this a good move by the PPP?

Indeed, an excellent move.

PPP passes on nominating Deputy Speaker

…matter to be raised at next sitting

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Monday said it had no nomination for the Deputy Speaker post after the matter was raised by the current Speaker of the 11th Parliament, Dr Barton Scotland.

Former Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Dr Scotland said the matter was put down at previous sittings as a result of the absence of the Opposition party.

PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira then rose to inform the House that her Party had “no nominations for the post” at this time.

Former Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall had been pipped for that post. According to PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, the post is a very strategic position and the Party’s move has to do with parliamentary tactics which will be seen unfolding later on.

According to him, the Party has to decide how to tactically utilise its resources in the Parliament to make sure that it is not short-changed.

The Speaker said given the Party’s position, the matter would be dealt with at the next sitting of Parliament which will be today.

In the 10th Parliament, the then A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change Opposition, which enjoyed a one-seat majority, had taken both positions declining to continue the past parliamentary custom and practice which established the Government holding the Speaker post and the Opposition occupying the Deputy position.

The two parties, however,  had negotiated behind closed doors who would become Speaker and Deputy Speaker – blocking out attempts by the PPP/C, which was in Government but had a minority in the Parliament, to occupy the latter.

The PPP/C had complained bitterly about the move explaining that APNU and the AFC had hijacked the notion of parliamentary democracy.

This time the coalition, which won the May 11 General and Regional Elections, left the post open to the PPP/C.

Currently, there is no one to attend to the business of the National Assembly if the substantive Speaker is unable to carry out his responsibilities for any given period of time.

Note the PNC and AFC position in the last parliament.

Give Harmon that position since he controls everything.

Moses would gladly take it. He is power hungry.

Indeed, an interesting observation.

Joseph Harmon is the effective president whether David Granger is in or out of the country.