Gov’t in fresh bid to thwart Rohee gagging

The government has moved to abort the first meeting of the Committee of Privileges, which is tasked with charting a course for the National Assembly in the opposition attempts to gag Home Minister Clement Rohee.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall yesterday wrote the Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs, requesting that the meeting, scheduled for next Monday, be “either aborted permanently or adjourned indefinitely” due to legal proceedings. Nandlall also informed of Rohee’s impending resignation from the Committee—in order to prevent charges of bias—and the need to find a replacement.

“…a decision now for the Privileges Committee to consider the issues slated for consideration is one which is designed to circumvent, ignore and disregard the pronouncements of the Honour-able Chief Justice and one that is contaminated with ulterior motives,” Nandlall wrote, in reference to last week’s ruling by acting Chief Justice Ian Chang.

Justice Chang found that Rohee as an elected member has a right to speak in the National Assembly but appeared to leave the question of his speaking to Speaker Raphael Trotman and the procedures of the National Assembly. Trotman, who has noted that the ruling has made no binding orders on him or the House, has since announced his decision to address the situation at the Committee of Privileges, which he had earlier ruled in November.

In the interim, Rohee’s ability to participate in the National Assembly as Home Minister remains limited.

Trotman, who is also the Chairman of the Committee, told Stabroek News yesterday that Nandlall’s letter should have been directed to him, rather than the Clerk.

He pointed out that the Clerk is neither the Chairman of the Committee