Caption: Marvin Gonzales

 

By Alicia Chamely

OPPOSITION Chief Whip Marvin Gonzales is questioning whether Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has the “capacity” to answer supplemental questions asked of her in Parliament.

Gonzales is also saying that the nation’s democracy is under threat after being denied from asking supplementary questions by House Speaker Jagdeo Singh during last week’s Prime Minister Question (PMQ) time in parliament.

He was speaking on Thursday at a press conference held at the Office of the Opposition Leader, Charles Street, Port of Spain.

Gonzales said, “I am hoping the prime minister, the current Prime Minister does have the capacity to respond to supplementary questions.”

Taking a stab at her late arrival in parliament chamber, which caused the PMQ to be convened later in the sitting, he said, “Because you show up late and need to get the information in the Chamber, you still have to wait for information to come to you and when the information finally comes to you, you are not prepared to answer supplemental questions.”

Gonzales said, “As a nation we have to be very careful because I somehow suspect that the prime minister is unable to answer questions on her legs.”

Asked to clarify what he meant by “capacity,” he said, “I am just asking the question whether or not the PM is unable to answer the supplemental questions that are being placed and posed to her on her feet.”

He added, “I prefer to leave it at that, the population can come to their own conclusion.”

Regarding the opposition being denied the opportunity to ask the prime minister supplementary questions based on her replies during the PMQ session, Gonzales cautioned that it could be seen as a breach of the democratic practises of parliament.

Gonzales explained that while Standing Order 26, which allows the opposition to question the prime minister of national importance, does not mention supplementary questions, for the last 15 years supplementary questions had been allowed and had become common practice during the PMQT session.

He said, “Unfortunately, last week we observed the opposition was unfortunately denied the opportunity to ask supplementary questions on the prime minister.”

Gonzales added, “We were taken by surprise because the answers provided by the honourable PM warranted and demanded further scrutiny.”

He criticised the precedent being set by House Speaker Singh by denying supplementary questions.

Gonzales said, “When the standing orders are interpreted in a manner that undermines the opposition’s constitutional functions it does not augur well for democracy in Trinidad and Tobago.”

He said he hoped to meet with the Clerk of the House, the Leader of Government Business and the Speaker to resolve the issue.

Gonzles said, “We believe in order for any democracy to function, for any parliament to function effectively, standing orders of the parliament must be interpreted in accordance with the practice and established practice of this parliament.”

He added, “All we are asking is for the traditions of parliament to be maintained.”