The Occah Seapaul Saga

The episode started when Seapaul suspended Minister Ken Valley for six months for his famous utterance: “You can run but you can’t hide.” In suspending Valley, Seapaul acted without authority, for only the House can suspend a member under Standing Order 43(5). Seapaul merely announced Valley’s suspension at the sitting following Valley’s statement. Thereafter followed a series of maverick decisions handed down by Seapaul, in stark conflict with the House Standing Orders.

For good reason, the standing orders disallow any challenge to the Speaker’s rulings, except by a substantive motion under Standing Order 42(5), which reads. . . (the Speaker’s) “decision upon any point of order shall not be open to appeal and shall not be reviewed by the House except upon a substantive motion made after notice.”

However, when a motion was filed against Seapaul under the relevant standing order, Seapaul refused to vacate the chair and quite improperly ruled the motion out of order. Her actions and her rulings were both irresponsible and irrational. She openly flouted the House Standing Orders, ignored hallowed parliamentary traditions, and made a mockery of both the Speaker’s office and Parliament. Former House Speaker Nizam Mohammed and I were prompted by her blatantly scandalous behaviour, to record our opinion in a letter to the newspapers, that most of her rulings were flawed, and not in accord with the standing orders.

During or after Seapaul’s house arrest, the newspapers carried front-page photos of Basdeo Panday and Ramesh in celebratory mood at Seapaul’s house. These photos did not portray a dignified and neutral speaker.

Reference to the unfortunate Seapaul saga should not ascribe blame to the Government; rather it should lament the violation of our Parliament by a misguided person.

Michael J Williams

Maracas