Ezra Taylor, National Chairman for the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) is chiding government ministers and backbenchers for not making contributions ahead of Opposition Leader Hon. Edwin Astwood’s response to the budget presentation by Premier Hon. Washington Misick in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, saying that their actions showed a lack of representation on behalf of their respective constituencies.
The following is the news release issued by the PDM National Chairman:
During today's Budget debate, the Leader of the Opposition informed the Hon. Premier that he would not adhere to the customary tradition of responding to the budget address immediately after the Premier completed his speech.
The reason cited was that the LOO has unlimited time and wished to have an opportunity to respond to the Premier and all other ministers. The only other member of the Opposition was the Opposition-appointed member who was restricted to speak for 40 minutes.
The Speaker was apprised of the LOO’s decision, along with all other members. At the conclusion of the Premier’s address, the Hon. Speaker notified the entire House that the LOO would not be responding to the Premier’s budget address immediately after, but rather later during the debate, and opened the floor for members to contribute to the debate.
The only members who contributed to the debate were the Governor’s two appointed members. With a 14-1 majority government and an Appointed Member, the only PNP that spoke to the budget today was the Premier. This indicates that 15 PNPs declined to represent their respective constituencies and Ministries.
Additionally, the observation today indicated that the cabinet Ministers fear speaking before the LOO because their contribution would not stand up to scrutiny.
It appears that this Government is in complete disarray, with the Premier’sleadership still in question, a lackluster performance of his Ministers, and the absence of all nine constituency representatives over the past three years suggests only one thing, this PNP Government has failed the Turks and Caicos Islands and its people.