UNC: Hamza is new Chief Whip

Singh resigned from the Chief Whip post on Friday after expressing disgust at the goings-on in the UNC.

The announcement of Rafeeq’s appointment was made by Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar at a news briefing following the caucus meeting.

Political Leader Winston Dookeran was not at the meeting and it was not known whether he agreed with that recommendation. However, Speaker of the House Barry Sinanan stated in an exclusive interview with Newsday on Saturday that he would be “guided” by the recommendation of the Political Leader of the UNC which is the practice.

Sinanan told Newsday on Saturday that, “It is the Political Leader of the UNC who will appoint the Chief Whip and communicate with me. The Opposition Leader has nothing to do with the Chief Whip’s appointment.”

Sinanan added that if the Political Leader of the UNC did not inform him of the new appointment, then the seat remains vacant.

Yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said while it was the custom and practice for the Political Leader to make the Chief Whip’s appointment, there was another option available to the party.

She said, “There is a second process if there are two groupings in the party. Then we can have two Chief Whips in Parliament.” She added, however, that the party had to take matters one step at a time and would inform the Political Leader of its recommendation.

Referring to the walkout of the Parliament by UNC members on Friday, Persad-Bissessar described as violation of the Standing orders the Speaker’s decision to allow Singh to speak instead of her on a private members motion. The motive, Persad-Bissessar claimed, was because, “They did not want us to be heard on the prosecution of Mr Panday.”

Again yesterday, Sinanan told Newsday the charges of breaching the standing orders were unfounded. He said that MP’s should look at Standing Order 32 which states that the Speaker recognises the person “who first catches his eye.” Singh was the first to jump up and I asked him if he was prepared to give way (to Persad-Bissessar) and he said he wasn’t,” Sinanan recalled. Sinanan said he had received notes from Persad-Bissessar and others indicating their wish to speak on Friday, but added that the Standing Orders say nothing about notes being sent to the Speaker. “What they have to do,” Sinanan said, “is to stand up if they want to speak.”

However, Persad-Bissessar yesterday said they have drafted a letter accusing Sinanan of breaching the Standing Orders and are seeking advice from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath said the Parliamentary caucus completely supported Persad-Bissessar and Sinanan wanted to interfere with the party’s business.

Ramnath said the UNC would operate respectfully under Persad-Bissessar.

Asked yesterday about the recommendation for him to be appointed as Chief Whip, Dr Rafeeq said, “I will act on the decision of the Political Leader and Speaker on this matter.”

In attendance yesterday were Rafeeq, Princes Town MP Subhas Panday, Nariva MP Harry Partap, Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma, Tabaquite MP Adesh Nanan, Naparima MP Nizam Baksh, Ramnath, and Oropouche MP Roodal Moonilal.