00:00The opposition led by Chief Whip Marvin Gonzalez responding to what happened in the lower house on Friday says government
00:07is out to suppress debate on issues.
00:10Private members, where matters that the opposition is seeking to raise on behalf of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago,
00:19the standing orders are now being utilized in a way to suppress discussion on important matters.
00:27I want to warn the government that you cannot hide behind the speaker's chair. You cannot hide behind the standing
00:34orders. This member of parliament will not be silenced.
00:40Gonzalez explained his side of events, saying he took his seat when the speaker rose as is required by the
00:47standing orders.
00:48And as is required by the standing orders, the speaker rising on his feet, I took my seat. The member
00:56for the Gomartine notice stood to second the motion, but I did not get the chance to say procedurally, I
01:05beg to move because the speaker stood on his legs.
01:11On recognizing that, I stood and I said I beg to move and the speaker took the point that because
01:18I beg to move was not said within the 45 minutes time period that was allotted to me to complete
01:25my contribution, he had no discretion.
01:29The Chief Whip sought to assure the nation he will not be silenced.
01:32But I want to assure the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago that no inflexible or no invocation of standing orders
01:42would silence me or silence the opposition.
01:47If the government is not prepared to enter into a debate on the floor of parliament and want to hide
01:55behind standing orders, there are other platforms and there will be other opportunities where the matters that I raise on
02:03the parliament of Trinidad and Tobago in my 45 minutes contribution, those matters will be prosecuted in other parts of
02:11Trinidad and Tobago.
02:12He said the minister was appearing afraid to debate the critical matter of water supply shortages.
02:19The government utilizing a technicality, having listened to my contribution for 45 minutes and not being able to respond to
02:29the evidence that I put on the floor of the parliament utilizing a technicality and what all of them have
02:34done collectively, including the minister of public utilities, is to run.
02:38Gonzalez referenced a similar incident involving Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander during the last sitting of the house when a
02:47motion was moved to allow for the acting appointments of Junior Benjamin as Commissioner of Police and Anand Ramessar as
02:54Deputy Commissioner.
03:18He said that the speaker had a discretion days ago but did not have that same discretion today.
03:25Fellow opposition MP Keith Scotland's senior counsel doesn't agree with the speaker that there is no discretion permitted.
03:33When you weigh up the importance of this issue raised by the honourable member, as opposed to what happened there,
03:42don't you think that the speaker, that some discretion should have been exercised to allow debate, to facilitate parliament, what
03:51the people brought us here to do, instead of relying on some sterile rules which could have been circumvented.
03:57Scotland says he was not given the opportunity to be heard by the House Speaker.
04:02When he started his speech.
04:04When he started his speech, he did say, I beg to move.
04:06I wanted to bring that to the attention of the speaker to ask him if that could have been considered.
04:12He could have told me no, but at least he could have heard me.
04:16He was struck out perhaps the way, but she could have agreed with him.
04:16He could have asked the listener to say, I'm sure if he did hire me.
04:17He could have said earlier.
04:18Like I quan這 time.
04:18Somebody just besides Joe, I will do my job pe picking over cha.
04:19You
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