Response from the Speaker in light of recent letter from the Clerk on convening Parliament! Statement by the Speaker of the National Assembly Following Refusal of the Clerk of the National Assembly to Convene the Assembly on November 6, 2014. Not for the first time in the forty-eight year history of the National Assembly, the Speaker and the Clerk are at odds over the power of the Speaker to convene the sittings of the National Assembly. Today, October 29, 2014, I was formally notified by the Clerk of the National Assembly that after consideration, my request for the National Assembly to be convened on Thursday, November 6, 2014, cannot be given effect to by him because he is of the view that the Speaker lacks the authority to convene sittings of National Assembly under Standing Order 8 (1) and (2). I will be writing to the Clerk to register my disagreement with his interpretation of the Standing Orders and his consequent position adopted. I will also so advise, in writing, the Leaders of the political parties in the House. This is a most unfortunate position arrived at, and obviously arises out of a very narrow interpretation of the Standing Orders, and of the prevailing circumstances whereby the National Assembly entered into recess and has emerged from that recess, and a majority of Members desire to meet. The National Assembly must resume sittings and cannot be bound by the whims of the Executive branch to have to await its consent before meeting. Such an interpretation flies in the face of the doctrine of separation of powers, and the constitutional right of the elected representatives to meet to perform their functions. The roles of Speaker and Clerk of the National Assembly are regulated by the Constitution and the Standing Orders. As constitutional officers, both are expected to work symbiotically for the National Assembly to be able to properly discharge its constitutional roles and functions. It is the duty of the Clerk to convene the sitting by making all arrangements including, summoning and ensuring the attendance of Members, and the preparation and circulation of the Order Paper. The Speaker performs the role of Presiding Officer once the Assembly is convened; whilst the function of convening National Assembly remains the sole preserve of the Clerk. The effect of the Clerks decision not to convene the sitting has the effect of crippling the ability of the Members of Parliament to meet. This in itself brings the Constitution into derision and disregard and cannot be what the framers of our Constitution intended. As a majority of Members have indicated their desire for the National Assembly to meet, the nation is confronted with a clear and unvarnished constitutional crisis., All stakeholders will have to work together to resolve it. As the sitting Speaker I invite all well thinking Guyanese to join me in examining all viable options and avenues to break the impasse in the interest of our beloved nation. in this regard I stand ready to entertain all reasonable suggestions and anticipate an early closure of this unfortunate development.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 22:44:16 +0000
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