… as MP gets hauled to ‘parliamentary court’ for
challenging salary increases
The political Opposition has sounded a warning of a sinister Government plot afoot to silence its members and supporters by openly perpetrating its politics of oppression, vindictiveness, bullyism, intimidation and fear – the latest victim being former Minister within the Finance Ministry, Bishop Juan Edghill, who has been summoned to appear before the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges.
Edghill in December 2015 had challenged the 50 per cent salary increases Government had given itself and its Ministers but was accused of misleading the House and was subjected to being referred to the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges in May of this year.
According to the Opposition Peoples’ Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), “we have now learnt that the Clerk of the National Assembly (Sherlock Isaacs) has informed Bishop Edghill via a letter/summons dated November 22, 2016, that he is expected to attend a meeting of the said Committee on November 25, 2016 at 11:00h.”
The Party has since signalled anticipation at not having a fair hearing since, “we are of the view that the Government along with a Speaker who is yet to demonstrate impartiality, will ensure that the process is less than fair.”
The Committee of Privileges – akin to a parliamentary court – is tasked with dealing with any matter which appears to affect the powers and privileges of the Assembly by its members.
Revenge
The PPP/C in a strongly worded and ‘urgent’ public statement on Wednesday said “we also view this decision to summon Bishop Edghill before the Committee at this time, is part of a revenge plot by the Government since the Opposition successfully moved a motion to haul the Public Health Minister before the Committee for deliberately and repeatedly misleading the house and lying on his Ministry’s shameful procurement of a bottom-house bond to store pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.”
Speaking to the genesis of the action against the PPP/C Member of Parliament, the Opposition directed attention to the fact that Edghill had moved a motion in December 2015 which called on the Government to annul an order which was specifically designed to ensure that it’s Ministers of Government “benefit from enormous salary increases which they had not earned.”
Edghill at the time had argued that the move to enrich the Ministers would place a significant burden on the public Treasury since it would cost taxpayers close to $1 billion.
He had maintained that it was also in bad faith and bad taste considering that the Government had repeatedly stated that they inherited a “bankrupt Treasury” and could ill afford to pay public servants, teachers and servicemen significant increases.
According to the PPP/C, “Government in a classic attempt to avoid the issues being raised by the Opposition parliamentarian tried to create a distraction by moving a spurious motion to send him to the Privileges Committee of the Parliament, as they alleged that he misled the house during the debate of his motion… This took place in May this year.”
Executive abuse
The political Opposition has since voiced its support for its MP saying, “Bishop Edghill is not alone as all of his colleagues are in full support of him and join in rebuking the Government’s misuse of the parliamentary rules and procedures as well as its continued disregard for standing parliamentary norms and traditions.”
According to the PPP/C, the moves against Edghill is also reminiscent of recent threats by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson to accelerate prosecution against PPP/C Members of Parliament and former members of the Government following the Opposition’s refusal to sit in the Parliament Chambers during President David Granger’s address in October last as a protest against his Executive abuse of power.
