While the opposition is mulling possible legal action over Speaker Manzoor Nadir’s proposed amendments to Member of Parliament David Patterson’s motion on full liability coverage for ExxonMobil’s operations in Guyana, former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran has said that the Standing Orders do empower the Speaker to reject or proposed amendments to a motion.
Patterson, who is now the lead opposition spokesman on oil and gas, submitted a motion to the House in early February to call on the PPP/C government to reverse its decision to end negotiations with ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd (EEPGL) to have its parent company provide unlimited liability insurance for possible oil spills.
