Gov’t will bring privileges motion against Ramjattan – Teixeira

PRESIDENTIAL Adviser on Governance and Government Chief Whip in the National Assembly, Ms. Gail Teixeira, yesterday disclosed that the Government will bring a privileges motion against the Alliance For Change (AFC) leader, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, in the National Assembly.

The move relates to controversial statements made by Ramjattan in September.
The AFC Leader, at a press conference in mid-September, stated that his party had been “reliably informed” that the PPP/C Government, against whom the No-Confidence Motion has been filed, has plans to “buy out” at least three parliamentarians at $30M each to vote against the motion when it comes up for debate next month.

The main Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has denied that this allegation concerns any of their MPs and the AFC holds the same position – a fact that has led to questions about the veracity of Ramjattan’s allegation.

Teixeira had expressed the Government’s intent to move to the Privileges committee in a letter, dated September 19, to the Speaker, on the ground that Ramjattan’s statements had besmirched and denigrated the image and integrity of all MPs and the entire National Assembly.
Teixeira said: “I am therefore calling on you, sir, as Speaker, to call on MP (Member of Parliament), Mr. Ramjattan, to publicly retract his statement or provide proof of which Members of Parliament were offered bribes and by whom.”