A private motion for answers from the Government on its plans to address water supply problems was stopped in Parliament earlier this afternoon.
This came after a procedural error by Arouca/Lopinot MP Marvin Gonzales during today’s sitting of the Lower House.
Mr Gonzales spent about 45 minutes outlining concerns about the country’s water supply, however at the end of his contribution, he did not formally move the motion by saying, “I beg to move.”
House Speaker Jagdeo Singh, suspended the sitting for 15 minutes to review the parliamentary rules and when the House resumed, Mr Singh ruled that the motion could not proceed.
As a result, the planned debate on the water supply issue did not take place.
After the House was suspended, Mr Gonzales accused the Government of using the standing orders as a shield and said he will not be silenced in Parliament.
Meanwhile, Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath issued a statement following today’s developments in the Lower House.
Minister Padarath said the Government was prepared to respond to the Opposition’s motion on the country’s water supply.
However, he noted that the Government must abide by the Speaker’s ruling and parliamentary procedures and criticised the Opposition, over what he described as a failure to follow the Standing Orders.
