Opposition thunder in the House

If yesterday’s sitting of the House of Representatives was any indication, Prime Minister Patrick Manning can expect thunder from the Opposition when he pilots the Police Bills on Tuesday. As Manning laid the bills in the House yesterday, the Opposition put up a vigorous show of defiance, virtually shouting down the Prime Minister at every turn. “In moving this motion I have taken note, together with my colleagues of the fact that these three bills have been the subject of a campaign within the society...” Manning began. “By who? You!” Ganga Singh finished. “Six million dollars!” another Opposition voice chimed in. “What yuh making speech for!” Kelvin Ramnath fumed. Somewhere in the din, Manning could be heard explaining that the bills were withdrawn in the Senate so that they could be debated in the House. “Why?” Kamla Persad-Bissessar challenged. “What is the point?” Subhas Panday questioned.

“We have decided that these bills ought to be debated in the House of Representatives because...” Manning started. But his words were drowned out by a deluge of crosstalk from Opposition MPs. “Yuh didn’t know all that before?” one Opposition MP rebuked. Deputy Speaker Hedwidge Bereaux rose to tell the Opposition members that they were gaining nothing with their unruly behaviour. As Manning stood up to continue, Ramnath said: “You make yuh statement already, sit down!” This remark brought Bereaux to his feet again.  “Honourable member for Couva South, that is not the way to behave,” he told Ramnath, who quickly apologised. Manning once more tried to speak. “Mr Deputy Speaker we have asked the members of the national community to speak to their Members of Parliament... seeking to secure their support,” he stated. “That is not yuh business!” Opposition MPs fired back. “Nobody spoke to me!” they chorused.

Manning, apparently undeterred by the hostile reception, persevered with the reading of  his statement. “In those circumstances we thought that the appropriate thing to do was debate the bills in the Lower House before we go to the other place. And that is why these bills have been introduced here today for debate next Tuesday. I beg to move.” “So yuh didn’t know all that before?” Subhas Panday asked. “You will never have it passed. Yuh wasting time,” Ramnath rejoined. Bereaux then put the question that the next stage of the Police Bills be taken on Tuesday June 29 at 10 am. “All in favour say aye,” he said. “No!” UNC MPs roared. “Take it back to the Senate!” Subhas Panday retorted. “Don’t move it from here again, eh,” Roodal Moonilal suggested, referring to the fact that the bills were first laid in the House and then taken to the Senate, only to be returned to the House again. Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday was not in Parliament, but he is expected to take up where his MPs left off on Tuesday.