Guardian ( Trinidad and Tobago )
26 June 2023 ( Page 10 )
UNC boycotting Senate to focus on LG registration drive
JOSHUA SEEMUNGAL - SENIOR REPORTER
JOSHUA.SEEMUNGAL@GUARDIAN.CO.TT
The United National Congress’ Senate bench will not be in the
chamber today, according to Opposition Senator Wade Mark.
According to the Senate order paper, the House is scheduled to
debate on the Anti-Doping in Sports (Amendment) Bill 2023. Three
annual administrative reports are also scheduled to be laid, while
there are also listed questions for oral answer.
However, at the Opposition’s weekly media briefing yesterday,
Mark said that the Opposition’s six senators—Wade Mark, Jearlean
John, Jayanti Lutchmedial, Damian Lyder, Anil Roberts and David
United National Congress Senator Wade Mark makes a point at
yesterday’s media briefing at the Office of the Opposition Leader
in Port-of-Spain.
Nakhid will be joining the rest of the party in focusing instead on
Nomination Day activities for the Local Government Elections.
“It is the first time, in my memory, that a government has chosen
Nomination Day to call a sitting of our Parliament. It has never
happened as far as I am aware in the past.
“We are going to do our democratic duty to ensure that on
Nomination Day, the UNC is represented in all, or if not all, the
majority of electoral districts,” Mark said.
“And we in the Senate have responsibilities on Nomination Day, it
is sacrosanct, it is sacred space. The UNC’s official senate bench
will not be participating in the senate activities tomorrow (today).
We have work to do in accordance with our democracy. We have
work to do with what is required in our Constitution—to preserve,
maintain and advance our democracy, so we are going to be
carrying out our duties on behalf of the people. So, the United
National Congress senate bench will not be present at tomorrow’s
sitting of the Senate. The PNM will not abuse us. They will not
misuse us and they will not distract us.”
According to Mark, the PNM has already denied the people their
constitutional rights by delaying the election from its
constitutionally due date of December 3, 2022.
He claimed that the PNM is intent on abridging, breaching and
subverting the country’s democracy, so the UNC must ensure that
everything is in place on Nomination Day to ensure victory in the
Local Government Elections.
He called on voters to choose the Opposition, claiming that the
PNM has repeatedly lied and misled during its last eight years in
office.
“Lies, hoaxes and false promises. Don’t fall for false promises.
They were supposed to reduce gas prices, they haven’t done it.
Don’t fall for PNM mamaguy. All of a sudden, the PNM is in favour
of raising the minimum wage,” he said.
“Send a resounding message to the PNM, you cannot treat us like
you’ve treated the people over the last eight years and expect us to
vote for you.”
Photo: United National Congress Senator Wade Mark makes a point at
yesterday’s media briefing at the Office of the Opposition Leader
in Port-of-Spain.