Quarrel over late local govt bill

"Taken from our P O L I T I C S section."

LOCAL councils seem set to continue for an extra year despite the postponement of local government elections, thanks to the contribution of Minister of Public Administration Dr Lenny Saith.

The Senate unusually met yesterday to debate a bill which must be passed by July 13, but spent an hour arguing whether or not to postpone it.

Minister of Local Government Rennie Dumas pilotted the Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill 2006 to extend the life of councils. But UNC Senator Wade Mark complained senators had not been given the 15 days notice of the bill under the standing orders.

Accusing Dumas of imposing his will on the Senate, Mark said he must instead seek the Senate’s consent to debate the bill.

The Senate then got messy.

Twice Dumas declared, “I beg to move the bill be read a second time”, but each time he was met by Mark’s protestations.

In the chair, Deputy President Rawle Titus tried to supervise a vote on Dumas’ motion, but was interrupted by the Independents.

Independent Senator Prof Ken Ramchand urged the matter be first discussed before being voted on. Independent Senator Dr Eastlyn McKenzie said she had just got her copy of the bill and wanted time to read it.

Titus suspended the Senate for 15 minutes to privately meet the leaders of the Government, Opposition and Independent benches. He returned and said all had agreed the Senate should vote on the bill. Dumas said next Tuesday would be too late to debate the bill as it also needs time for proclamation.

Independent Senator Prof Ramesh Deosaran said the 15-day rule was clear, but he would consider the spirit of the issue if he heard an apology that might soften his heart. “I hear no such apology and I feel it is a seeming arrogance that governments, one after the other, inflict on this House.”

Acting Prime Minister Dr Lenny Saith bit the bullet. “My Vice President, I apologise profusely for the bill being late. We ourselves when we got it asked the same question, but I apologise for the bill being late.”

A vote was taken with 24 Government and Independent members supporting debate on the bill, and only the six Opposition senators voting against.