Moonilal confident parliament agenda will flow smoothly despite COP's threats

File: Roodal Moonilal

Leader of Government Business Dr Roodal Moonilal said on Monday the People's Partnership would have to hold discussions on latest threat from the Congress of the People (COP) to to take an independent position on policy matters in Parliament if San Fernando mayor Marlene Coudray is not removed.

"These are matters that is engaging the attention of the leaders of the People's Partnership and discussions will be held when we next meet," Moonilal told the Guardian newspaper.

COP leader Prakash Ramadhar made the threat on Sunday after his party's national congress rejected the agreement reached on April 12 by the leaders of the five members of the partnership that the Coudray matter was closed.

Ramadhar also stated on Sunday that his party would adopt a more independent approach in parliament and not necessarily vote with the government on every issue.

"We would exercise our independent discretion and if we think it is in the interest of T&T, we will support legislation,” he said. “If we do not believe it is in the interest of the people of T&T, for now and for the future, we will take the decision to either vote against legislation or to abstain from voting.”

Moonilal said, "From our point of view we are confident the parliamentary agenda will flow smoothly. Last week we passed five constitutional bills in one day.

“All Government members voted. We are pleased with the parliamentary record and I am sure these issues will be discussed among the leadership and will not inhibit our parliamentary agenda."

There are six elected members of COP in the House of Representatives, which means that all bills requiring a simple majority can pass with the support of the 21 UNC MPs. There are also two TOP MPs, who are coalition members and have always voted with the government.

At least one COP member - Anil Roberts - has said publicly that COP cannot instruct him on how to vote in Parliament.

"Not even my father can tell me how to vote on any issue. So I would love to see Prakash Ramadhar, Joseph Toney and whoever else tell me, as an elected Member of Parliament, how I must vote or not vote. That and God face I would love to see. That isn’t happening," Roberts told reporters Monday.