Kamla scoffs at Govt tears over Emily

THE OPPOSITION will file a motion of no-confidence in the Prime Minister and will also write to several international bodies on “Government’s attack” on the democratic institutions and independence of the judiciary.

In a wide-ranging broadside, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar also condemned the raid on the Chief Justice’s office and Govern-ment’s failure to proclaim the Children’s Act and strengthen the Family Services Division so as to protect innocent children such as murdered Emily Anamanthodo.

During a news conference at the Parliament Committee Room, Persad-Bissessar scoffed at the “crocodile tears” being shed by the Government. She called on Government to proclaim the Children’s Authority Act immediately and implement the 37 recommendations made by the Multi-Disciplinary Task Force which looked at the family and prepared an action plan for the restructuring and rehabilitating of the family.

Among the recommendations was the strengthening of the Family Services Division and the decentralisation of its services, Persad-Bissessar noted. But she said this division was still terribly understaffed and ill-equipped to deal with the needs of the population.

“Little Emily could have been saved (by the authorities),” she said, pointing out that unlike Sean Luke who died as a result of a single incident, Emily endured abuse over an extended period.

Persad-Bissessar also chastised Prime Minister Patrick Manning and the Minister of Social Development for being in contempt of court. She referred to Justice David Myers’ ruling that the Criminal Injuries Board be appointed by May 1, to deal with victims of crime. Yet, this has not been done, she said.

On the CJ issue, Persad-Bissessar said she understood that charges were currently being prepared to be laid on the Chief Justice upon his return to the country. She claimed the Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions were “attempting to muzzle all those who were concerned about Government’s attempt to overpower the judiciary and violate the principle of the separation of powers.”

Persad-Bissessar said the Government was also running roughshod over the Parliament, refusing to answer questions raised by the duly elected MPs and failing to convene Parliament to discuss issues of national importance. She recalled that House Speaker Barry Sinanan last week turned down her request to discuss as an urgent matter of national importance — the CJ issue — and “instantly afterwards the Prime Minister rose to give his view on the matter (via a statement to the House).”

Subhas Panday claimed that Government was preparing to lay charges against the CJ in order to have him vacate his office. He said the State would then “drag out” the case and put judges of its choosing in office. He said this was why Government was delaying the debate on the Supreme Court of Judicature Act which aimed at increasing the number of judges. He said Government did not want the current CJ to appoint the new judges.

Minority Leader in the Senate Wade Mark lamented that there were questions for written answer on the Senate Order Paper since October 2005, seven months outstanding. This was unprecedented, he said.