Opposition Chief Whip and WIN Member of Parliament Tabitha Sarabo-Halley has defended the nomination of Walton-Desir, challenging critics to identify any rules that were allegedly breached. In her statement, Sarabo-Halley emphasized that the opposition’s decision to nominate Walton-Desir aligns with the Standing Orders of the National Assembly and should not have been dismissed. She stated, “Any member of the National Assembly, whether elected or non-elected, is eligible for membership of a committee.”
Sarabo-Halley maintained that there is no provision in the Standing Orders that prevents a parliamentary group from nominating another member for its allotted committee seats. She asserted, “There is no standing order, there’s no rule, there’s no section of the standing orders that indicates that there are exceptions to that particular rule.” The dispute centers around the opposition’s choice to utilize one of WIN’s committee seats for Walton-Desir, following calculations that left FGM without direct representation on committees.
According to Sarabo-Halley, this arrangement did not impact committee numbers, seat allocations, or parliamentary proportionality. She explained, “WIN made the decision that we will put her on some committees giving her our seats.” Furthermore, she argued that the Committee of Selection overstepped its authority by rejecting a nomination that she believes met all parliamentary requirements.
Sarabo-Halley contended, “There’s no provision of the Standing Orders that authorizes the chair of the Committee of Selection or any other member of that committee to veto a nomination duly submitted by a recognized parliamentary group.” She also dismissed claims that Walton-Desir was intentionally “set up” through the nomination process, asserting that the issue arises from political disagreement rather than procedural misconduct.
Her remarks have drawn attention to Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, whose management of the situation has faced criticism from some opposition members. Sarabo-Halley clarified that the issue originated within the Committee of Selection and should not be mistaken for a formal ruling of the National Assembly. She stated, “The matter under discussion is not a ruling of the National Assembly, but a decision taken within a committee setting.”
Additionally, she questioned the notion that MPs might face repercussions for discussing committee proceedings publicly. In a pointed remark, she asked, “What specific standing order prohibits a member of Parliament from informing the public of what transpired at a meeting of the Committee of Selection or from expressing disagreement with a decision or interpretation advanced by the chair of that committee?” Sarabo-Halley has formally written to Speaker Nadir for clarification regarding the events of the June 5 Committee of Selection meeting and is awaiting a response. As the situation develops, the controversy has expanded into a broader discussion about parliamentary authority, transparency, and the rights of opposition parties within the National Assembly. Opposition figures continue to assert that no rules were violated while seeking answers regarding the initial blockage of Walton-Desir’s nomination.
Source: hgptv.com
