00:00Staying with Parliament-related news at the sitting of the House of Representatives today,
00:05the Prime Minister's question time was scheduled to occur before urgent questions.
00:09But a request was made to take her questions later in the proceedings,
00:13as Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissesso was not yet in Parliament.
00:16This upset MP4 Aruka Lupino Marvin Gonzalez and prompted an explanation
00:21from Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Barry Padarath.
00:24The Prime Minister's question, Mr. Speaker, is specifically placed on the order paper
00:30for it to be taken at a particular time.
00:32The Prime Minister has a duty and a responsibility to present herself
00:37and take the question available to the opposition, Mr. Speaker.
00:41I want to remind my colleagues opposite, particularly the member for Aruka Lupino,
00:46that during the 10 years he spent on this side of the House,
00:48it was not unusual to take Prime Minister's questions later in the sitting.
00:53The Prime Minister, as you have indicated, is on her way.
00:56There's another Prime Minister who is visiting right now,
00:59and both Prime Ministers will join us shortly.
01:02But when Passat-Bissesso did enter the Parliament, along with a CARICOM delegation,
01:07Gonzalez noted that it was agreed that the two questions posed
01:11would have been taken at a particular time in the sitting, and then this happened.
01:17Mr. Speaker, having regard to the practice direction and the practice
01:20and the tradition of this Parliament,
01:24it makes no use to participate in Prime Minister's question today
01:29because the opposition is not going to participate
01:32in a complete charade and disrespect of this Parliament.
01:37I am to take it that the Prime Minister's questions, which were approved,
01:41and due for answer today, are withdrawn in the circumstances.
01:44We move forward to statements.
01:45Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
01:51Mr. Speaker, the opposition has withdrawn those questions,
01:54and we will ensure on the next occasion,
01:56the Prime Minister will be present to answer questions posed by the opposition.
02:00Thank you very much.
02:01Let's see.
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