The APNU-AFC Opposition motion to have 22 members of the Government side sent to the Privileges Committee was dismissed by the Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir during the start of the debates on Budget 2022 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).
The Motion was summited by the Former Leader of the PNC and the Leader of the Opposition, along with Chief Whip Christopher Jones. They submitted the motion following the alleged acts committed by the Government Members during the night of the passing of the Natural Resource Fund Bill(NRF).
During that night, the APNU-AFC protested as the Bill was about to be passed. With the blowing of Whistles, the thumping of the tables, and the use of placards, the APNU-AFC Opposition protested calling for the bill not to be passed.
In protest, the Mace, which is deemed the most significant Symbol in the Parliament, was snatched causing some level of pandemonium in parliament.
This move came after the opposition questioned the new bill being introduced for the Government to have greater access to the oil funds and truncate the oversight committee. The Bill was, however, passed due to the Government Majority.
Eight members of the Opposition were referred to the Privileged Committee. They were Chief Whip, Christopher Jones, and other Opposition MPs, Sherod Duncan, Natasha Singh-Lewis, Annette Ferguson, Vinceroy Jordan, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, Ganesh Mahipaul, and Maureen Philadelphia.
Since then a motion for 22 members of the Government to the Privileges Committee was submitted to the house, and in response, Speaker Nadir said that the motion was dismissed due to the fact that a prima facie case was not made out against the government parliamentarians.
Another reason is that government lawmakers cannot be liable for illegal actions.
