POLITICAL leader of the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) Phillip Edward Alexander is giving false hope to United National Congress Supporters by saying that its political leader could be prime minister of the country now.
So said political leader of the National Transformation Alliance Gary Griffith after Alexander said Persad-Bissessar has the support of the majority of elected MPs and could therefore become the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
On Thursday Griffith said, “There is absolutely nothing for the President to believe that the sitting prime minister does not control the majority in the Lower House. Only if there is a vote in Parliament, then the onus is on the sitting prime minister to dissolve Parliament to call a snap election as he no longer controls the majority. Until then, there is nothing that the President can do.”
The issue arose after it was revealed that a PNM caucus of MPs voted 11 to nine to have Energy Minister Stuart Young take over the prime ministership from Dr Keith Rowley, who announced he would step down before his term ends this year. Planning Minister Beckles received the nine votes.
Alexander is contending that while Persad-Bissessar has 19 opposition senators she commands the support of the majority of MPs.
But Griffith said, “There is absolutely nothing at this time, to show that there is a splitting of votes by the present 21 Lower House MPs in the government, for the support, selection and appointment of a prime minister, so the question does not even arise as to a vacancy for the post of prime minister at this time.”
He added that the situation as it relates to this 11-9 PNM internal vote, was in relation to the votes and selection internally by the PNM for the choice of the possible future Prime Minister, hence showing that at this time there is no vacancy, conflict or vote of no confidence for the present and sitting prime minister.
Griffith said, “The 11-9 is in relation to two PNM MPs for consideration by PNM to be selected to replace the sitting Prime Minister, so how can he foolishly talk about the President getting involved, when there has been no lowering of the 21 votes in Parliament for the sitting prime minister.”
He said, “ Finally, even if there is a splitting of votes in Parliament by the PNM upon which the sitting prime minister no longer has the majority of 21 votes, neither does Kamla Persad Bissessar, as she has 19 votes only.
“Only if two of the 21 PNM MPs cross the floor and vote for her, can she claim to have a majority in Parliament, which is not the case, so the President cannot appoint someone with the most votes, as the appointment of prime minister, can only be done when someone has the majority of Parliament that being 21 votes or more.”
Griffith gave the example of 1995, when it was 17- 17- 2, based on 36 seats in that Parliament and Basdeo Panday was forced to acquire the two votes from ANR Robinson’s party, to then go to the President, showing he had the majority of parliament, upon which only then was he able to be appointed as prime minister.
He also noted 2001, when three UNC MPs refused to vote for UNC on a bill it was then 16 UNC and 16 PNM and one NAR, with three refusing to vote for the government, but because the three UNC MPS did not vote for opposition leader Patrick Manning, it meant that no one had the majority in Parliament, which forced Panday to call a snap election.
GG a COP that was dismissed by KCR seems to be a mouth piece for the PNM and appears to be doing , a job similar to a communication specialist aka Roda BAR. RAT