OPPOSITION FILES MOTION AGAINST SPEAKER

THE Opposition United National Congress (UNC) has delivered on its repeated threats to bring a motion of no confidence in Speaker of the House of Representatives Bridgid Annisette-George. 

Member of Parliament for Couva South Rudranath Indarsingh has filed a motion which calls on the House to “express its lack of confidence in the Speaker.”
The recital to the motion states that the Standing Orders “are not intended to diminish, restrict or violate the rights, privileges and immunities of the House.” 

It further states that “the Speaker must discharge her functions in an unbiased and impartial manner, free from political influence and in no manner to prevent or protect the Government from criticism.” 

Further, “the Speaker’s lack of understanding of and/or disregard for her role as an impartial presiding over, the application of, and, at times, indifference to, the Standing Orders has impeded her judgment to perform her role free from bias and thereby unequivocally brought the Office of Speaker into disrepute.” 

The motion adds that “the Speaker has oppressed and continues to oppress the voice and opinions of hundreds of thousands of constituents of the Members of the Opposition.” 

Under the British-style parliamentary system, which Trinidad and Tobago largely practices, there have been a few no-confidence motions against respective Speakers. 

But sitting governments use their parliamentary majorities to vote against the motions. 

The UNC Opposition has protested over several occasions about Annisette-George’s ruling and overall management of proceedings in the House.