Saturday, September 26, 2009

Validation bill needs opposition support

The validation bill that Attorney General John Jeremie laid in the Senate Friday cannot become law unless it gets the support of the opposition or some independent senators.

The bill is aimed at retroactively validating "all acts and deeds of the Commission of Enquiry into UDeCOTT and the construction sector", and giving immunity from anyone who participated "in any shape or form" in the enquiry.

It also provides that the evidence given to the commission can be used by the commissioners in the preparation of the report to the President.

It would retroactively legalize everything since the start of the hearings on Sept. 9, 2008,


UDeCOTT is fighting all that in court.


The passage is guaranteed in the House of Representatives but it's not certain to pass in the Senate, where it needs 19 of the 31 senators to vote for it.

If the opposition decides to support the bill then it will get easy passage, since the 15 Government senators and six opposition members would give it the number of votes required to pass.

Opposition leader Basdeo Panday wants to see the details before making a commitment.

Among the independent senators, Gail Merhair has stated previously that she sees her role as maintaining the status quo, so she will likely vote with the government on this. Other independent senators are likely to support it as well because they have supported the probe into UDeCOTT.

However, Senator Michael Annisette, who is a UDeCOTT board member is unlikely to give the bill a nod.

In the past he has been sympathetic to the government, but this time he is objecting to attempts to deny UDeCOTT its right to defend itself and get a fair hearing.


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Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai