No-confidence motion in one month

THE OPPOSITION UNC’S no-confidence motion against Senate President Dr Linda Baboolal will be filed in the Upper House in three to four weeks time. This was the word from top UNC officials yesterday after the party’s parliamentary caucus gave the green light to proceed with the motion against Baboolal. At Tuesday’s sitting of the Senate, Baboolal suspended UNC Senator Robin Montano after he claimed she was protecting the Government and the Opposition walked out of the sitting in protest at her decision. Senate Opposition Leader Wade Mark told Baboolal the UNC will be filing a motion of no-confidence against her and vowed that the Opposition would wage war against the Senate President until she stops being “the key protector” of the Government in Parliament.

UNC officials said the no-confidence motion will be filed within this time period because they want to present a thorough case outlining Baboolal’s alleged bias in favour of the PNM.  They said a committee which includes UNC Senators Sadiq Baksh, Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan and Jennifer Jones-Kernaham has been mandated to do “complete research” of Baboolal’s conduct from Hansard documents from October to the present. They added that the motion will deal with Baboolal’s actions in and out of Parliament.  “Now we have a lot of evidence. This is going to be done very professionally, clinically and without emotion. This is like a lawsuit. There is no question of if, it is a question of when,” one official declared.

The official said he was uncertain whether UNC Political Leader Basdeo Panday, who returned home on Wednesday night, was fully briefed on this matter. Meanwhile, Mark said he was not going to publicly respond to Baboolal’s denial that she suspended Montano (R) by acting on the advice of his brother, Legal Affairs Minister Danny Montano, and Attorney-General John Jeremie. The UNC chairman however dismissed suggestions that his motion on equal opportunity legislation is sub judice. Mark said the motion was approved according to the Upper House’s rules.