Senator’s request to shift Private Members’ Day causes — Confusion in the Senate

Independent Senator Ramesh Deosaran’s poor recollection of a conversation between himself and acting Senate leader, Joan Yuille-Williams — in which he requested that private members’ day be shifted to accommodate him —  caused some confusion in the Senate yesterday.

Government, through Yuille-Williams, sought to have the Caribbean Community Skilled Nationals Amendment bill debated on a day when normally Private members — Opposition and Independent MPs — have an opportunity to present their own motions for discussion. Yuille-Williams ran into protest when she even attempted to have the bill discussed yesterday “at a later stage” in the sitting. Minority Leader Wade Mark complained that it was only at 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon that he received the package indicating that government  planned to go through all the stages of the Immigration (Caribbean Community Skilled Nationals) Amendment bill.  He said Thursday and Friday were public holidays and Saturday and Sunday were not working days. “We have had no opportunity to properly research this matter, until yesterday,” he said.

Senate President put it to a vote. The result of the division was 20 for, 9 against, with Independent Senators, Eastlyn McKenzie, Ramesh Deosaran and David Quamina voted with the Opposition. Then Yuille- Williams sought leave of the Senate to deal with Government business instead of private business in order to debate the Immigation Amendment bill. Mark protested again that the Opposition was not prepared to  cede its right to debate a private motion. He said the next private motion for discussion on the Order Paper was Ramesh Deosaran’s and that Deosaran indicated to him that he was ready to procede. Stressing that the Standing Orders were being abused by the government, Mark appealed to the President to protect the right of the minority. “Under Standing Order 20 (4) this day is reserved for us,” he said emphatically.

Deosaran intervened, saying that two weeks ago the Parliament was told that “today” would have been private members day. “And I prepared, and in fact I rescheduled a departure overseas in order to be here today, only to learn last week that today would not be private members day. And I agreed, in principle. Only I find this discussion today (between Opposition and Government wrangling over the issue),” he said. He said he was warning the Government that if he couldn’t introduce his motion “today”, it (the Government) must give an assurance that he would be able to present his motion on July 8 “when I return from abroad”. “If not, like a good scout I am prepared to present my motion today, private members’ day,” he said, to supportive deskthumping.