00:00The UNC says it is unsure as to why the Law Association has inserted itself in what it calls this parliamentary matter regarding the governing party's criticisms of independent senators, especially one independent senator who is a senior counsel.
00:17In a statement on Monday written by Public Relations Officer Dr. Kirk Magoo, the UNC asked if the Law Association is, quote, defending one of its members, attorney at law Anthony Vieira. Does it believe that he represents the association in the Senate? Or is this a general intervention? Is this a statement of the Law Association executive on behalf of the general membership? End quote.
00:41On Sunday, the Law Association said it notes with deep concern what appeared to be unwarranted attacks on the independence and integrity of the independent bench in the Senate during and following the recent parliamentary debate on the bill to amend provisions governing qualification for a prime minister's pension.
00:59The Law Association said those attacks were directed at members of the independent bench who did not support the bill.
01:05In response, the UNC said they are unsure what alleged attacks the Law Association is referring to.
01:12In addition, the UNC said it is concerned about what it identified as entrenched members of the establishment, including the Law Association and sections of the media, characterizing analysis and criticism of the president's senators as unwarranted attacks on their independence and integrity.
01:30The UNC said it is deeply undemocratic to attempt to stifle legitimate and lawful criticism of lawmakers.
01:38The Law Association said members of the independent bench in the Senate are selected by the president to represent various interest groups and that they are not nominated by the leaders of the respective political parties.
01:50The Law Association said that the purpose of this constitutional arrangement is to afford the parliament the benefit of views and perspectives which may not align with or be shared by those members with a political affiliation.
02:05The UNC said that according to Section 42C of the Republican Constitution, nine senators shall be appointed by the president in his discretion from outstanding persons from economic or social or community organizations and other major fields of endeavor.
02:24The UNC further said that the term independent does not appear in Section 42C.
02:30The Law Association said that it is not clear what rational basis there is for suggesting that the independent senators who supported the 2025 Prime Minister's Pension Amendment Bill were independent and free of opposition influence, but that those who did not support the bill were not.
02:50The UNC emphasized that all parliamentarians, including the president's appointed senators, are duly subject to analysis and criticism.
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