Opposition files urgent motion to the Speaker of the House

SPEAKER of the House of Assembly His Honour Michael Carrington will be asked today to adjourn Parliament on the basis of a Definite Matter of Urgent Public Importance.

Opposition Leader Mia Mottley told the media during a press conference yesterday that the move is seeking government’s willingness to convene an urgent meeting of the Social Partnership before the next meeting scheduled for August 18, and to “diffuse the tension and industrial protest” which has been seen in the country over the last week as a result of the increase of the National Social Responsibility Levy.

“We do not know anything that is more urgent facing Barbados today than this issue that has led to the cessation of commerce, that has led to the withdrawal of labour and has led to harsh words being said across a Social Partnership that has served us well now for over 25 years.”

“We have seen go-slows, we have seen the shut down of the Barbados Port, buses not available...and now today we have seen a crowd that I believe the police have estimated at 30 000 take to the streets of Bridgetown...”

During a press conference held at the Opposition’s Office in the West Wing of Parliament, the Opposition Leader revealed that the letter was sent to the Speaker by Member of Parliament for St. James Central Kerrie Symmonds to the Speaker to have discussed pursuant to Order 18 of the Standing Orders.

According to Symmonds, “The rules of the House of Assembly allow us to request the adjournment of the ordinary business of the House by way of a motion of Definite Urgent Public Importance.”

“Today (yesterday) I have filed with his Honour the Speaker an application for the House to be adjourned having arisen and requesting his Honour to allow Parliament to have discussion on this matter. Quite clearly the specific matter is the deepening impasse between two members of the Social Partnership and the Government of Barbados. That impasse is so deep in fact that it is fair to say that the Social Partnership is now fractured.”

“And we as legislators and part of the governmental apparatus of Barbados feel that there is a role for the Opposition to play in this matter. That role simply put is to try to as best as possible, urge upon the government to return to the table for the purpose of having discussions about the very austere and burdensome NSRL.”

According to Symmonds, it is a matter that is worthy of serious discussion by government again. “We note as well on a previous occasion with the Municipal Solid Waste Tax, the government heard the cry of the people, they responded to the cry of the people led by the Opposition, and we would want to think that a caring and genuinely interested administration would once again understand what is happening in Barbados.”

“His Honour the Speaker tomorrow will be asked to tomorrow (today) make a determination as to whether in his view and it is only the Speaker who can make the determination as to whether this satisfies him that it is in fact urgent.... As long as he is satisfied and allows us to raise this matter for discussion, we as an Opposition will be urging government [to] convene a meeting with the Social Partnership, certainly before the August 18 because we genuinely do not believe that this matter can be allowed to fester for another month,” he said.

Opposition members recalled that the last time this Standing Order was invoked was in 2014 when then Opposition Member of Parliament for Christ Church West, Maria Agard raised the challenges facing the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Prior to that Member of Parliament for St. Joseph Dale Marshall raised the Standing Order back in 2010 when it was discovered that CLICO continued to sell insurance policies. Mottley recalled that at that time, she along with Member of Parliament for St. Andrew George Payne were put out of the House of Assembly.

Parliament is expected to go on summer recess today. (JH)