Govt defeated in Senate on deferral of motion

Government was defeated in the Senate yesterday on a simple motion to have a question deferred for one week. The combined vote of Opposition and Independent Senators resulted in a 12-for /14- against vote, forcing a one-day, instead of one-week, deferral of a question directed at Labour Minister Larry Achong, about the minimum wage.

Opposition Senator Wade Mark successfully argued that the Government’s request for a one-week deferral was disingenuous because the Senate was about to go into recess. Today’s sitting would be the last until Parliament reconvenes for the Budget debate, Mark said. Vice-President, Rawle Titius who was presiding, said he knew nothing about a recess and attempted at first to merely rule that the question be deferred for one week. But Mark and Robin Montano would have none of it. And after consultation with the Clerk, Titius conceded and put the question to the Senate. When the results of the decision were announced, Mark shouted: “Yes! I can breathe a sigh of relief” while Montano said: “Thank You!”

Earlier Mark had lost his cool when Public Utilities Minister Rennie Dumas, in seeking a one-week deferral to another question — on WASA — claimed that he had answered the question at a previous sitting. “It is dishonest for the Minister to claim he answered the question when he knows full well he hasn’t. You come here with yuh stupid...” Mark said, before breaking off amidst a chorus of “oooooohs” from MPs. “Well I am upset!” Mark exclaimed.