Lead Editor-Politics
With the contentious Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Amendment) Bill heading to the Senate this week, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says her Government is turning up the heat and will not change its position on rejecting every amendment proposed by the nine Independent Senators.
Persad-Bissessar yesterday doubled down on the position she first announced after all nine Independent Senators voted against the Special Operations Bill last week, saying they would now be “relegated to uselessness” in the legislative process.
Guardian Media asked the Prime Minister whether, with the Procurement Bill now heading to the Upper House tomorrow, she remained firm that her Government would not entertain a single amendment from the Independent bench going forward.
She was also asked to respond to Independent Senator Anthony Vieira’s warning that such an approach would weaken the purpose of Parliament, and whether she stood by the language she used to describe the senators on Republic Day.
Persad-Bissessar made it clear that her position had not changed.
“Of course I plan to do what I said. The Government will not accept a single amendment from those nine luciferian monsters who voted to protect criminals who rape mothers, wives and daughters in their own beds,” Persad-Bissessar told Guardian Media.
“It is my opinion that they exhibited a demonic hatred for law-abiding citizens. They could bray all day and night in the Senate, but it wouldn’t make a difference to a single piece of legislation again.”
She continued, “Going forward, they will sit in that Senate for days and be relegated to uselessness. We will never take amendments from people who voted to protect murderers, rapists and child molesters. If they want to create legislation, they should fight the elections.”
The position takes on immediate significance with the Procurement Bill expected before the Upper House after being passed by Government in the House of Representatives.
The legislation proposes several significant changes to the procurement framework, including expanded exemptions covering energy and national security and public-private partnerships for public housing. It also places limitations on what the Office of Procurement Regulation can do following a Part IV investigation.
Government has argued that the amendments will address bottlenecks and improve the delivery of goods, services and housing, while the Opposition has warned that the changes could weaken procurement oversight.
The debate now moves to the Senate, where the Independent bench could propose changes to the bill, but where the Prime Minister says those amendments will not be accepted by her Government.
Vieira has described Persad-Bissessar’s position as “deeply regrettable,” arguing that scrutiny, disagreement and amendments are fundamental to the functioning of Parliament.
But Persad-Bissessar rejected his contention that ignoring amendments could weaken Parliament.
Persad-Bissessar yesterday said legislation would not be weakened by her Government’s position, pointing to Senate President Wade Mark’s ability to cast a deciding vote.
“Legislation would not be weakened at all, there is the Senate President who has a casting vote, and he is just as Independent as the nine President’s senators.”
“What weakens Parliament is when some scumbag president’s senators try to sell their votes for personal gain. My Government will not buy votes,” Persad-Bissessar added, in an obvious reference to a previous claim that two Independents had sought favours for their votes on the Zones of Special Operations Bill (ZOSO).
Persad-Bissessar has never provided evidence to support the claim that Independent Senators sought favours for their support of the ZOSO Bill, which was defeated in January, nor has she named the senators.
‘Breathing space’ for President
Guardian Media also asked Persad-Bissessar whether she had written to President Christine Kangaloo, or intended to speak with her, about the conduct of the nine Independent Senators, given her (Persad-Bissessar’s) concerns over their positions on national issues.
Persad-Bissessar indicated she would not approach Kangaloo on the issue for now, citing the recent death of the President’s mother.
“Christine is going through a difficult time right now with the recent passing of her mother, so I prefer to not beat up on her because of the actions of those vile senators,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She said she had seen Kangaloo at the Republic Day awards and believed the President was still grieving.
“She looked very beautiful and poised at the Republic Day awards, but I could still see the pain in her face from her mother’s passing. I will respectfully give her some breathing space for now.”
The President appoints the nine Independent Senators under the Constitution. Members of the Government, however, have argued that, because of how they are appointed, they are the “President’s Senators” and not “Independents.”
