–party astonished by Speaker’s decisionFrontbencher for the APNU Deborah Backer yesterday said that the party was left in astonishment on Thursday after the decision by Mr. Raphael Trotman, Speaker of the National Assembly, to allow the Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee, to address the National Assembly on matters of public security.Backer was at the time addressing members of the media at the party’s weekly press briefing.According to Backer, the Speaker rejected objections by the Leader of the Opposition, David Granger,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, MP, and the Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Basil Williams, MP, and allowed the Minister to speak.Backer said that the statement Rohee made was on so-called reforms that his Ministry has proposed.Backer stated that her colleagues argued on a point of order that Mr. Rohee should not be permitted to speak on the grounds that over the past six months a Resolution of the National Assembly had been passed to that effect.According to Backer it was the Speaker himself that had earlier ruled to give further effect to that resolution and that the matter had been referred to the Committee of Privilege. It had also been the subject of a Motion brought by the Attorney General, Mr. Anil Nandlall, in the High Court.Backer said that her party has demanded that the Capita-Symonds Report, which was handed over to Mr. Rohee nearly two years ago, in February-March 2011, and now forms the basis of the new ‘plan’ be laid before the National Assembly.She said that the party also demanded that the report should be published in the media so that the public could read its contents and assess its relevance to crime and the improvement of the Guyana Police Force today.Backer added that the Speaker, despite the government’s refusal to present the ‘plan’ to the National Assembly, allowed Mr. Rohee to speak. Backer noted that her party will support the implementation of a serious security reform programme that can enhance human safety. The Partnership will not comment on the contents of the Capita-Symonds report until it has received and studied it.She said that APNU iterates its resolve to maintain its opposition to Mr. Rohee being permitted to address the National Assembly as long as he purports to perform the functions of Minister of Home Affairs.
