UNC: Government continues its attempts at stifling the Opposition
The Attorney General’s behaviour in the Committee stage of the Non-Profit Organizations Bill in the Senate on Thursday 11th April, 2019, highlights once again that this Government is trying to suppress the Opposition and prevent us from giving voice to the citizens on critical legislation. This, according to Public Relations Officer of the United National Congress, Senator Anita Haynes.
Haynes, who had noted the Government’s lack of consultation during her presentation in the debate on the Bill, said, “From the onset, it has been the AG’s stated policy to ignore everyone and to pass this bill ‘no matter what’.”
“The unjustified and arrogant haste has continued,” she said. “The standing orders provide for the Opposition to make comments on specific clauses of the legislation; it is a well-established part of the legislative process that the AG is trying to overturn.”
“His attempt to stifle the Opposition will be met with strong objection, and the UNC will remain the voice of the people in Parliament,” the UNC Senator added.
“If the goal is good legislation the AG should not only welcome but encourage more discourse,” she said. “It is clear, however, that this Government is intent on pushing through its own agenda without any consideration for the people who will be affected.”
“We call on the Attorney General and the members of the Rowley-led Government to cease this arrogant approach to governance, and adopt a more collaborative one, in the interest of the people we all serve,” Senator Haynes said.
“In light of the number of examples we’ve seen in recent weeks of this AG’s inability to do his job, he should do the right thing and resign, or be removed from the position.”