Following the revelation that the Clerk of the National Assembly wished that he could resign, the Alliance For Change (AFC) believes that there is a deliberate attempt to frustrate the work of the Parliament.
At a press conference today, Wednesday September 11, AFC Parliamentarian Cathy Hughes said, “And this is not about one political party having a grouse with another political party sitting in the parliament, that is a clear decision that we have no interest in how the people of this country suffer as a result of this kind of attitude, this kind of behaviour and this kind of indecision.”
The Clerk, Sherlock Isaacs told a local newspaper that he had earlier sought approval from President Donald Ramotar to demit office because he is frustrated with the Tenth Parliament.
In this regard, AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan said, “It is a very unfortunate development and I can understand the sense of frustration he is experiencing but that’s a frustration that will come with the nature of the task being as it is.”
The AFC leader further added, “I want to urge him not necessarily to walk away like that simply because he is confronted with certain difficult issues.”
The Clerk’s frustration grew further when the Leader of A Partnership for National Unity called on him to send the four local government bills to President Ramotar for assent.
However, the Clerk responded to the APNU leader and stated that the four Local Government Bills were submitted to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel at the Attorney General’s Chambers to ensure that all of the amendments made by the relevant Parliamentary Select Committee and the National Assembly were inserted.
In this regard, the AFC agreed that the National Assembly should have its own parliamentary counsel.
“The challenge he is facing is coming first and foremost from the government, which is not assisting him….” Ramjattan said.
