Opposition did not walk out on flood debate

Hundreds of residents endured widespread flooding, some were even marooned, and incurred damage to property and crops.

In a release yesterday, Persad-Bissessar made it clear that the Opposition walked out of the House of Representatives only after the debate on the matter was completed, dismissing an editorial in the Sunday Express, which claimed the Opposition took this position when the country was going through such turmoil and hardship.

She said the Hansard recording and the audiovisual showed when Opposition MPs left the House. She said she filed the flooding motion under Standing Order 17 and the debate began at 6 pm to continue for one hour.

“I led off the debate, with a 20-minute submission as permitted by the Standing Order, and reported on the destruction of homes, livestock and farm lands, and dislocation of families, and noted the poor and slow responses of the Government.

“The Government’s main response came from the Honourable Minister of Works (Rohan Sinanan), who, in an address of about ten minutes criticised the Opposition and claimed the Government had responded to the flood in an effective and timely manner. Following that, several speakers made five-minute presentations, as permitted under the Standing Order,” she noted.

Persad-Bissessar said during his brief contribution, Princes Town MP Barry Padarath was accused by Leader of Government Business of being a “racist”, and was endorsed by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

She said when the Opposition called on the Speaker (Brigid Anniestte-George) for a ruling with respect to the said statements, the Speaker proceeded to suspend the sitting of the House for ten minutes, following which, she resumed debate on the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill.

Persad-Bissessar said when the Opposition again sought to have a ruling made, and was denied, they took a decision to demit the House for the day as “we felt that such a matter warranted a ruling”.

“I wish to reiterate that the Opposition did not walk out of a debate on the floods. In fact, it was the Opposition which caused a debate to take place...The Government’s reply was the typical fare of blame-casting, stonewalling and irrelevancies.” She said the Opposition did not abandon “the people’s business” with the walkout, noting six MPs had contributed to the debate on the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill over the two days of sittings, adding the six Opposition Senators contributed when the bill was before the Senate.