Chairman of the Private Sector Commission Ronald Webster today expressed grave concern at what his commission has described as `dogfighting’ in the National Assembly and says if the situation continues there could be a “lockdown” of parliament.
“There must be a way to put national interest above political interest,” Webster told an audience that included parliamentarians.
Webster, addressing a luncheon being held by the commission at the Pegasus particularly to address the members’ concerns about Parliament, noted that the business sector plays a significant role in the development of the country.
Saying that he believes Speaker Raphael Trotman, who was slated to address the gathering shortly after, holds the key to unlocking the situation, Webster pointed out that every time there was conflict in parliament there was civil unrest.
He said that today’s event was convened after members at a meeting expressed concerns about what was happening at parliament, a situation they described as `dogfighting’. And as such a decision was made to engage Trotman and both sides-opposition and government.
He charged that motions tabled in parliament need to be based on the interest of the country and properly articulated. He said parliament also needs to be aware of the needs of the people.
