UNC: No-confidence motion still coming

RECENT DISCUSSIONS involving Senate President, Dr Linda Baboolal, Government, Opposition and Independent leaders in the Upper House do not mean that the UNC will not file a no-confidence motion against Baboolal. This was the word yesterday from Senate Opposition Leader and UNC chairman, Wade Mark.

Speaking with reporters at the Hilton Trinidad on March 31, Baboolal described talks prior to that day’s sitting of the Senate between herself, Mark, Leader of Government Business Dr Lenny Saith and leader of the Independent Senators, Dr Eastlyn McKenzie as very cordial and said all parties were willing to continue their talks.“ There have been issues in the Senate where sometimes the Standing Orders are not adhered to and it may be because of a misunderstanding of what the procedures actually are,” she said.,” Baboolal said.

At the previous week’s sitting, the Opposition walked out of the Senate to protest Baboolal’s suspension of UNC Senator Robin Montano and served notice that it would file a motion of no-confidence against her. Montano had repeatedly accused Baboolal of protecting the Government. Mark told Newsday that the UNC is still going to file that motion in the Senate within one month’s time.

He said a team headed by UNC Senator Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan is doing research into the matter, with the time period spanning the two years that Baboolal has been Senate President. Mark added that this approach would ensure that the UNC’s case against Baboolal is waterproof. He reiterated that as Senate President, Baboolal must always be “impeccably fair and extremely impartial” in her conduct.