Is the Plot thickening?

By G. A. Dwyer Astaphan

We all now know that after negotiations between the two parties in Opposition, Mr. Mark Brantley (CCM) will continue as Opposition Leader and Mr. Vincent ‘Juicy’ Byron (PAM) will be the senator.

We also now know that both CCM and PAM have declared that they have no interest in the post of Deputy Speaker, which has to be filled as the third order of business next Wednesday (March 10th).

And as far as I am aware, the post of Deputy Speaker cannot be foisted upon a person, so if he or she declines the nomination, then  that is the end of it.

But the truth of the matter is that the real story may just be starting.
Here is how.

If no Deputy Speaker cannot be elected next Wednesday, then there may have to be an adjournment.

Of course, the propaganda line for the Government would be that the Opposition is trying to frustrate the people’s work by playing around with parliamentary matters, and so on, while the Opposition would argue that they are not there to do the bidding of the Government and cannot be forced to take up posts that they do not want, or have, to take up.

During that adjournment, the Prime Minister might have to relieve one of his senators of his ministerial post (let us say, Mr.Carty), after which the Parliament can reconvene and Mr. Carty could then be elected Deputy Speaker.

Maybe  even at that very sitting, the Government could introduce a law to increase the number of senators, in accordance with Section 26(2) of the Constitution. If this were to happen, my guess is that they would go for a maximum of six (6) senatorial positions.

That way, Government would get four (4) and the Opposition would get two (2), as per the formula set forth in Section 30(1) of the Constitution.

(And in the process, the Prime Minister could get the opportunity to insert two of Labour’s upcoming stars in the Parliament and prepare them for the next ringing of the bell).

Once that happens, Mr. Carty could resign as Deputy Speaker and he would be replaced by one of the new Government senators who, of course would not be a minister.
Then Mr. Carty could get back his ministerial job.

And that would ‘solve’ the problem.

But the Prime Minister can act even more swiftly on this.

He could have Mr. Carty stand down now. Then come next Wednesday, March 10th, Mr. Carty could be made the Deputy Speaker, and the law to increase the number of senators could be passed.
Just maybe.

Immediately that happens, Mr. Carty could resign as Deputy Speaker, making way for one of the new senators to take up the post.

Then Mr. Carty could stroll merrily back into the Ministry of Education.
Easy, isn’t it?

But if all of that were to happen, would there be any political fallout? Would the Prime Minister  appear to have been presumptuous in dealing with this matter? And would he now be seen as awkward and grasping?

Clearly, he would not want the Opposition to get an additional senator. But if this were to be the definitive scenario, he might have no choice in the matter.

Which itself could help us understand what the strategy and tactics of the Opposition might be in declaring that it has no interest in the Deputy Speaker’s post.

One thing is sure: we don’t have long to wait.