pharoah
05-24-07, - 09:03 AM
http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=45&a=12725
24th May
PM Recommends Leslie Miller As Senator
By Candia Dames
Parliament opened on Wednesday with the usual fanfare, but without the usual complement of senators.
This is because Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Opposition Leader Perry Christie remained divided over who the three remaining senators ought to be.
When the upper chamber convened on Wednesday, there were only 13 senators in place: nine government senators and four opposition senators.
Under the constitution, the remaining three must be appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the Opposition.
The PLP contends that the three senators should be PLP senators given that the constitution mandates that the political balance in the Senate reflect the political balance in the House of Assembly.
The Bahama Journal learnt on Wednesday that a day earlier, Prime Minister Ingraham had submitted the names of former PLP Minister Leslie Miller; former PLP Parliamentary Secretary Michael Halkitis, and Chamber of Commerce President Tanya Wright, to the governor general.
Mr. Christie reportedly did not have Mr. Miller on his list of names for the final three, but Prime Minister Ingraham has reportedly recommended that Mr. Miller be appointed anyway.
One party insider told The Bahama Journal on Wednesday the whole situation has created great consternation within the Progressive Liberal Party.
After the Opening of Parliament, Mr. Christie only had a brief comment on the matter.
"My position is clear. I think the prime minister’s position is clear and those positions don’t appear to reconcile one to the other, and so it’s a process that’s taking place."
Mr. Christie also indicated as he mingled with Progressive Liberal Party supporters outside the House of Assembly that he was struck by the obvious divisions that accompanied the opening of parliament.
Those divisions were evident as PLP supporters wearing their gold T-shirts had gathered on the southern side of Bay Street and FNM supporters wearing red congregated on the northern side.
The crowd threw jeers at members opposite, with the FNM crowd booing Mr. Christie and the PLP’s parliamentary team, and the PLP crowd booing the new Cabinet.
The taunting became loud at certain points, as each side tried to outdo the other.
"It’s always an interesting feeling to see the pendulum swing and to see the division that exists," Mr. Christie told The Bahama Journal
"Very clearly, this country is divided. There’s really very little effort to stop the division. I think that’s really the most significant thing I’ve seen today, not the Speech from the Throne, but the division that exists."
Asked how he feels to be back in the House as Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Christie said, "It’s something that one has to live with and conform to. We’re going to do a very good job representing the people of the country."
Mr. Christie was not prepared, however, to comment on the Speech from the Throne on Wednesday.
"I’m going to have to give a considered opinion on it," he said, before jumping into his vehicle.
Earlier, Mr. Christie said, "I have to assess the extent to which this Speech from the Throne is simply connected to all of the work we’ve been doing in the country. I really need to properly consider it before I respond."
His party won 18 of the 41 seats in the House of Assembly during the May 2 general election.
24th May
PM Recommends Leslie Miller As Senator
By Candia Dames
Parliament opened on Wednesday with the usual fanfare, but without the usual complement of senators.
This is because Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Opposition Leader Perry Christie remained divided over who the three remaining senators ought to be.
When the upper chamber convened on Wednesday, there were only 13 senators in place: nine government senators and four opposition senators.
Under the constitution, the remaining three must be appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the Opposition.
The PLP contends that the three senators should be PLP senators given that the constitution mandates that the political balance in the Senate reflect the political balance in the House of Assembly.
The Bahama Journal learnt on Wednesday that a day earlier, Prime Minister Ingraham had submitted the names of former PLP Minister Leslie Miller; former PLP Parliamentary Secretary Michael Halkitis, and Chamber of Commerce President Tanya Wright, to the governor general.
Mr. Christie reportedly did not have Mr. Miller on his list of names for the final three, but Prime Minister Ingraham has reportedly recommended that Mr. Miller be appointed anyway.
One party insider told The Bahama Journal on Wednesday the whole situation has created great consternation within the Progressive Liberal Party.
After the Opening of Parliament, Mr. Christie only had a brief comment on the matter.
"My position is clear. I think the prime minister’s position is clear and those positions don’t appear to reconcile one to the other, and so it’s a process that’s taking place."
Mr. Christie also indicated as he mingled with Progressive Liberal Party supporters outside the House of Assembly that he was struck by the obvious divisions that accompanied the opening of parliament.
Those divisions were evident as PLP supporters wearing their gold T-shirts had gathered on the southern side of Bay Street and FNM supporters wearing red congregated on the northern side.
The crowd threw jeers at members opposite, with the FNM crowd booing Mr. Christie and the PLP’s parliamentary team, and the PLP crowd booing the new Cabinet.
The taunting became loud at certain points, as each side tried to outdo the other.
"It’s always an interesting feeling to see the pendulum swing and to see the division that exists," Mr. Christie told The Bahama Journal
"Very clearly, this country is divided. There’s really very little effort to stop the division. I think that’s really the most significant thing I’ve seen today, not the Speech from the Throne, but the division that exists."
Asked how he feels to be back in the House as Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Christie said, "It’s something that one has to live with and conform to. We’re going to do a very good job representing the people of the country."
Mr. Christie was not prepared, however, to comment on the Speech from the Throne on Wednesday.
"I’m going to have to give a considered opinion on it," he said, before jumping into his vehicle.
Earlier, Mr. Christie said, "I have to assess the extent to which this Speech from the Throne is simply connected to all of the work we’ve been doing in the country. I really need to properly consider it before I respond."
His party won 18 of the 41 seats in the House of Assembly during the May 2 general election.