THE House of Representatives is scheduled to resume next Tuesday, after a three-week break. It is likely that a week later the House will commence the first section of the sectoral debate, which will focus on the infrastructural and physical development areas.

This will involve ministries like Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Local Government and Environment and Lands.

No-show Hylton

Although Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Anthony Hylton indicated on May 11 in the Senate that he would pilot the Appropriations Bill, he left the island earlier in the week for Castries, St Lucia, for the 23rd meeting of Caricom’s Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED).

The result was that Leader of Government Business in the Senate, AJ Nicholson, had to pilot the Appropriations Bill on Friday.

Hylton’s absence also forced the postponement of the debate on the bill amending the Evidence Act – which allows for testimony in court via video. The bill should have been piloted by Nicholson, who was busy piloting the Appropriations Bill.

Tufton still ‘fishing’ for answers

Opposition Senator, Dr Christopher Tufton came under fire from both the President of the Senate, Syringa Marshall-Burnett and the Leader of Government Business, Senator AJ Nicholson, Friday, when he sought to get some assurance on when his 11-month-old motion on the state of the fishing industry would be debated.

Senator Tufton’s motion, which he tabled last June, wants Parliament to appoint a joint select committee to look at the sustainable recovery and development of the fishing industry.

Tufton rose during the tabling of motions on Friday, explaining that it has been nearly a year since he placed the motion on the Order Paper for debate and discussion. He said further that he considers it an important issue.

The President: What is the point you are making?

Senator Tufton: I am making the point that I am concerned that it has taken a full year after placing this on the Order Paper for it to come to debate and discussion, in an industry that is so critical and so many persons depend on.

The President: Senator Tufton, you are not moving a motion, would you please…

Senator Tufton: Pardon me!

The President: You are not moving a motion?

Senator Tufton: I am not moving a motion, but I believe I can raise the concern that I have as it relates to the particular area.

The President: No, not at this point. Not at this point.

Senator Tufton: Pardon me, Madam President.

The President: Not at this time, Senator.

Senator Tufton: Could you advise me at which point, Madam President?

The President: (at) motions relating to the sitting of the Senate.

Senator Tufton: Okay, well I will rise at that stage.

But, when the senator rose again during “motions relating to the sitting of the Senate”, he suffered a similar fate.

Tufton said that, if possible, he would like to get some explanation as to why his motion has not been debated.

Nicholson (Leader of Govern- ment Business): Several matters come before this Senate from time to time. Some take three months to be debated, some take six months, some take 18, some take 24 months. This will be taken when the time comes.

But, Leader of Opposition Business, Senator Anthony Johnson rose and complained that the explanation from Nicholson was not “adequate”.

Senator Johnson: This is a matter that I have spoken to him on, in our normal relationship as to what will happen, from time to time. And, there have been times in the last year when we have not been exactly certain of what would be the issues and I have said to him, ‘what about Senator Tufton’s motion on fishing?’ And he said, ‘well, it wasn’t appropriate’. But, how long can it be inappropriate? The matter is important, the matter is something which affects the general public.

Senator Nicholson: What, you debating it?

Senator Johnson: No, I am not debating it. What I am saying, it is relevant and I really can’t understand…it is not a lack of time.

Senator Nicholson: I said it will be taken in time.

Senator Johnson: There is an election coming up and presumably the House is going to be prorogued. So we would like to have the opportunity to speak on it. We don’t know who will be here next time in the Senate.

Senator Nicholson: We know who it will be.

Senator Johnson: Well, considering that we are appointed by others, you might have been given assurances about your tenure but, on our side, we have not been given nor have we asked for any such assurance.

I have come prepared several times. I am going to have to redo my thing on it to support Senator Tufton. Madam President, may I ask the Honourable Leader to tell me when we can expect it to be taken?

Senator Nicholson: One thing is certain, I can tell you. You won’t hear from me, when we have our normal talks again, anything in depth. Because you’re going to come back and repeat it. You understand. I won’t do that. Thank you.

Senator Johnson: I haven’t done so.

Senator Nicholson: Madam President, the matter will be taken at an appropriate time.

The discussions ended, immediately.

Not even an appeal from Tufton’s opposition colleague, Senator Shirley Williams, to allow the matter to be debated in light of its importance to the fishing industry, could change the minister’s mind.