BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – BLAME for the Federal Parliament’s operation without the office of the Deputy Speaker being filled continues to be laid squarely at the feet of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.
Prime Minister Douglas, having been engaged on the matter by a caller to his radio programme “Ask the Prime Minister” on Tuesday (Dec. 11), reiterated comments which he uttered time again, suggesting that fault for the House’s situation is with the Opposition. Notwithstanding – he explained – the government is working at rectification.
And to rectify the problem, Prime Minister Douglas explained that the government has two possibilities; one of which needs the support of the Opposition if it were to succeed and the other is a non-option.
“The government can correct the problem in only one of two ways. It can ask the Opposition to become involved and accept the responsibility of the Deputy Speaker as was done in the past, or the government will increase the number of Senators. How else can we do it? The Opposition has refused to cooperate with the government and is acting very childishly on this particular matter…”
The Prime Minister informed that prior to the convening of Parliament in March 2010, government members had met with the Opposition and assurance was given by Opposition Leader Mark Brantley that he would encourage one of his fellow Opposition Members to take up the post. But since that was not done and since all members of the Government Benches are carrying full ministerial responsibilities, it had to resort to the other option.
“We had in fact suggested and nominated a Member on the Opposition side. He refused! The Leader of the Opposition had given me the assurance that he was going to use his best office and his best effort to encourage one of his Members to take the nomination. It did not happen. As a result of that, we had to do what we did in order to get the Parliament started.”
“But, as I said, each Member of the Government’s side in Parliament is already carrying serious Ministerial responsibilities. To disappoint one of them, someone on the Government’s side would have to take on those additional responsibilities and it is unfair! We needed all of the members to carry out the functions and the services of government. That is why we sought to correct this problem by increasing the number of Senators, having two on the Government side, one on the Opposition side and using one of those Senators on the Government’s side to become the Deputy Speaker of the House.”
Dr. Douglas’ suggestion indicates that had the Opposition followed through with its promise and one of its Members was appointed Deputy Speaker, the situation that arose in the House only last week could have been averted.
“And the illness of the Speaker on Friday brings home the point very clearly that there is need for a Deputy Speaker, because the Speaker could have been ill, would not have come to Parliament but the Parliament would have continued because there would have been a Deputy Speaker to carry out the role and responsibilities of the Speaker as his Deputy…But it (the Government) can’t do it by itself. It must do it with the cooperation of the entire House and that is what is not forthcoming.”
The Political Leader of the Federation struck a comparison with his now Attorney General the Hon. Patrice Nisbett, who sat on the Opposition Benches during the previous term and had accepted the position of Deputy Speaker of the House “in good faith”.
