Opposition Highlights Deficiencies Of Assembly

(As part of observances for its 30th anniversary, Stabroek News will be reproducing snippets from its earlier years on page four of each day’s newspaper.) DEFICIENCIES in the functioning of Parliament rose to the fore again as the National Assembly wrapped up sittings for the year.

Amid exchanges of the usual holiday greetings, Mr. Eusi Kwayana of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) highlighted a major drawback.

He said the “lack of proper records of proceedings” was a “severe limitation and drawback” for Members of the Parliament.

Another major irritant for opposition members and most of the Parliamentary Press Corps is the paucity of information offered by government members when questions are raised.

Mrs. Janet Jagan of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) walked out in obvious disgust last week after persistent questions on State expenditure on housing were ignored.

She had sought unsuccessfully to find out what a supplementary provision of $99,326 “to meet increased contribution to Housing Programme” meant. This provision was in addition to $3M voted in the 1987 budget for housing and Mrs. Jagan argued nothing had in fact been done for housing.

At one stage, Speaker Mr. Sase Narain said he hoped more information would be provided in the future. He said even he had difficulty following some of the material before the House at times.

FRUSTRATION

Opposition frustration at the derailing of almost all their motions and moves the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) built-in two-thirds majority is also at the root of the disenchantment with the functioning of Parliament.

Kwayana failed to get government support for a petition he recently presented on behalf of a group within the City and surrounding areas calling for a radical alteration of the kerosene distribution system.

He subsequently simply tabled another petition on behalf of about 75 tanners from the Mahaica district by calling for immediate drainage and irrigation action for farm lands there.

Mrs. Jagan recently found occasion to remark, “about all this body is useful for is to air certain issues.”

Responding to the expressions of goodwill for the holidays from Prime Minister Mr. Hamilton Green, PPP Leader Dr Cheddi Jagan hoped the new year will see the development of unity and a political solution of the problems

Kwayana also called for “a higher level of patriotism” and said “we need fair and free elections after round-table discussions between the opposition and the political directorate of this country.”