The Alliance For Change (AFC) is exploring the possibility of a parliamentary censure or reprimand for Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall who was involved in a rumshop brawl and gunplay with a teenager three weeks ago.
AFC Leader Raphael Trotman told Stabroek News yesterday that in his opinion Lall’s behaviour was unbecoming of a parliamentarian and it brought parliament into disrepute. As such he feels that parliament ought to take some action in this regard even if it means having the matter placed on record. Lall has declined to speak to the media on the incident and has reached a settlement out of court with the teen.
Trotman said that the AFC in its release condemning the minister’s action last Friday had said that it was prepared to support any initiative led by the main opposition PNCR to have the minister censured and sanctioned by the National Assembly.
However, Trotman said the Leader of the Opposition, Robert Corbin appeared to be reluctant to move in the direction of sanctioning the minister.
Because of what appears to be Corbin’s reluctance or unwillingness at a time when he feels that this issue requires serious attention in parliament, Trotman said the AFC feels that it has to do something. “The issue”, he said, “should not be dropped just like that.”
PNCR Leader Corbin, however, told Stabroek News when contacted yesterday that “the people of Guyana would have to censure” Lall. He said that the PPP continues to ignore the criminal acts being committed by its members then uses their majority in parliament to stifle any motion condemning such acts.”
Nevertheless, he said that the PNCR will continue its efforts at exposing the PPP/C government’s illicit activities.
GAP Leader Paul Hardy told Stabroek News that GAP’s national executive is due to meet today at which time the Lall issue and how it was being dealt with by the government, the head of state and the law enforcement agencies would be discussed. The GAP-ROAR alliance would then make its position known.
Stabroek News was unable to obtain a comment from PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar on the incident involving Lall and the teenager. However, a party source told this newspaper that the party was looking at the government for direction.
President Bharrat Jagdeo has said that he was not going to ask Lall to step down from his job neither was he going to ask him to step aside to facilitate investigations into the minister firing shots into the air. Jagdeo had said that neither Lall nor the teen was interested in pursuing the matter. He had also said that the minister was asked to surrender his weapon and he believed he had done so.
Lall is alleged to have first accosted the teen, Joseph Doodnauth and cursed him. Lall then left, returned and continued with a stream of expletives. He followed up with a third volley of profanity after which Doodnauth says he rebuked him over his behaviour. An argument then ensued at which point Lall is alleged to have taken out his firearm and struck the teenaged Doodnauth on his forehead, causing a deep wound and leaving him bloodied. Doodnauth said he then left the scene. The Minister followed in his vehicle and allegedly jammed him with the vehicle. Doodnauth said the minister then emerged from the vehicle and allegedly fired several shots in the air and also threatened him.
