The Mace at Parliament.
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Confusion surrounding the whereabouts of Parliament’s Mace was put to rest by Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, who told iNews that he took it for cleaning.
This is the case, even as Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman issued a press statement, claiming that the Mace was stolen and that he filed a report with the Commissioner of Police.
“Today, on entering the Speaker’s Office I discovered that the Mace, the symbol of authority of the office of Speaker of the National Assembly, was removed from its usual place without my permission, knowledge or consent. The entire protective case in which the Mace is kept is also missing in its entirety.
“From time immemorial, the Mace is kept in the Speaker’s office and is only removed by the Sergeant-at-Arms for use during sittings or for temporary viewing by guests on tour of the National Assembly.
![Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman. [iNews' Photo]](http://www.inewsguyana.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Trotman.jpg)
Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman. [iNews' Photo]
“Upon making enquiries no one could furnish a reasonable response or explanation as to its whereabouts. Staff members appeared afraid to give provide and explanation,” the Speaker’s statement noted.
However, when contacted to verify if indeed the Mace was stolen, the Clerk said that he took the Mace for “safe keeping and for cleaning” and that the Speaker never enquired from him.
“The Mace is here. He [Speaker] didn’t speak with me. I was around,” Isaacs told iNews.
The Clerk and the Speaker are at odds over the Clerk’s refusal of Trotman’s request to set November 06 as the date for the National Assembly to reconvene after its recess.
