UNC not filing Caroni motion

THE OPPOSITION United National Congress (UNC) will not be filing a motion to debate the restructuring of Caroni (1975) Limited in Parliament on Friday and has accused the Government of abdicating its responsibility to the local sugar industry. This was the word yesterday from Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh.

At a People’s National Movement (PNM) meeting in Couva on Saturday, Prime Minister Patrick Manning challenged the UNC to bring a motion on Caroni’s restructuring to Parliament on Friday ( Private Members Day) and said Government will debate the matter for as long as is necessary. Singh told Newsday the Prime Minister’s challenge was nothing but another red herring. “After thirty something years in Parliament, Mr Manning does not have a proper understanding of parliamentary procedures,” he declared.

The Chief Whip explained that to debate a motion on the adjournment of the House requires four days notice and when the motion comes up on the Order Paper, it takes a total of 30 minutes to present and respond to it. A motion on Private Members’ Day, Singh continued, requires a minimum of 12 days notice. He said 30 minutes was insufficient time to debate a matter of crucial importance like Caroni and even if the Opposition filed a motion yesterday, it could not be debated on Friday. “The Government is abdicating their responsibility. All this talk by Mr Manning is nothing but a bold-faced lie,” the Chief Whip declared.  Singh stressed that it was Government’s obligation to present a detailed plan of Caroni’s restructuring to the nation and have it fully debated in Parliament. “Why is there a delay?” he asked. The Chief Whip added that the UNC would welcome any debate on Caroni on Friday, once Government presents a detailed restructuring plan to Parliament.