Senate President votes against Govt

Senate President, Dr Linda Baboolal, created her own history yesterday when for the first time in her tenure as Presiding Officer she cast her vote against the Government. Giving her reasons, Baboolal stated that in order to “maintain the high principles of this Senate, it would be my duty to vote with the noes.” Her vote came after a 14-14 tie situation arose with Government on one side and Opposition and Independents on the other. The cause of the dispute was whether or not the Senate should discuss Caricom (Removal of Restrictions) Bill at yesterday’s sitting. Baboolal’s vote served to delay the debate on the Bill to next Tuesday.

The stalemate arose in part because Tourism Minister Howard Chin Lee arrived late to the Senate, depriving the Government of one vote. Government wanted to begin to debate the Bill yesterday and to conclude the debate today. But Opposition and Independent Senators felt that the Bill was too important to rush through. The 50 plus page Bill had been debated in the “other place” — the House of Representatives — last Friday and passed on Monday. But several amendments were made in the House on Monday. Senators only received these amendments yesterday at the start of the sitting.

Government leader Dr Lenny Saith stated that he had indicated last week that Government would want to debate the matter and that the Bill (minus amendments) had been circulated with the Order Paper. However, Opposition Senator Wade Mark argued that the Bill “was far too serious” and had “far-reaching implications.” Mark also objected to the idea of debating the Bill conjointly with the Caricom Single Market and Economy Bill. “They (these Bills) are too weighty. We want to follow the pattern of the House of Representatives by dealing with these Bills separately,” he said. Baboolal suspended the Senate for ten minutes, obviously hoping to give all parties an opportunity to talk and to arrive at some consensus. But at the end of the ten minute break, Senators seemed to be even more confused and divided on the issue.

In fact, there appeared to be total confusion with Senators not seeming to know which Bill was the cause of all this contention —  the Caricom Single Market and Economy or the Caricom Removal of Restrictions Bill. Mark kept pressing Baboolal to cast her vote as Saith tried unsuccessfully to compromise. Baboolal, whose vote only became necessary because of the action of the Independents,  looked to Independent leader, Eastlyn McKenzie for guidance. McKenzie said  the Bill contained “very serious matters” and therefore could not be debated to its conclusion either at yesterday’s sitting or at a sitting today. Baboolal then voted — against the Government. Baboolal has been in this position before, but on that occasion she voted with the Government. Independent Senator Ramesh Deosaran later complimented Baboolal “on the manner in which she extricated herself.” Former senate president Ganace Ramdial had also voted against the (UNC) government.