Browne questions government’s deferral of questions

News Clint Chan Tack 13 Hrs Ago

Dr Amery Browne. - File photo

LEADER of Opposition Business in the Senate Dr Amery Browne has questioned a lack of clarity on government's deferral of several questions on the Senate's order paper.

He raised the query at the start of the Senate's sitting on October 29.

Leader of Government Business Darrell Allahar indicated government's inability to answer certain questions posed to Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander because of Alexander's absence.

Browne said Allahar did not indicate whether a deferral of two weeks was being sought for those questions. He added this was one option available to government as well as another government minister answering the questions.

As leader of government business in the Senate before the April 28 general election, Browne has exercised both of those options on different occasions. Browne himself has answered questions in the Senate on behalf of different government ministers.

Allahar thanked Browne for this clarification. He sought a deferral of the questions to Alexander as well as another question for Defence Minister Wayne Sturge.

The questions to Alexander were filed by Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi. They were related to virtual court hearings at police stations. The question to Sturge concerned safety measures at high-risk beaches.

Later in the sitting, Attorney General John Jeremie was unable to answer a question from Opposition Senator Melanie Roberts-Radgman about when government's official legislative agenda would be presented to Parliament. Jeremie said the answer to this question was not yet ready.

At the start of the sitting, PNM deputy leader Sanjiv Boodhu was sworn in as a temporary opposition senator in the absence of Opposition Senator Foster Cummings due to illness.

Cummings is the PNM's general secretary.