body,td,th { font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; }
Tonight, the public pressure on the Briceno administration is increasing as the Senate is now demanding an inquiry into just how that Definitive Agreement came into existence in October of 2020 and then ended up in front of Cabinet in May of 2023 - ready for approval.
The four Social Partner Senators have signed a motion, quote, "for the appointment of a Special Select Committee to investigate all documents, communications and processes tied to the signing of the document titled "Definative Agreement…dated October 2020 and to investigate all documents, communications and processes that resulted in the..."Definative Agreement…being presented to Cabinet (accompanied by draft legislation and Cabinet White Paper) in May of 2023." End quote.
As we reported a few nights ago - this is one of the powers of the senate, to "institute and conduct enquiries and investigations on any matter of public interest or importance." The same had been done before for widespread Immigration fraud during the Barrow administration - that time the charge was led by the PUP Senators.
But this time it's the four independent Senators - Janelle Chanona for the NGO's, Elena Smith for the unions, Moses Benguche for the churches and Kevin Herrera for the business sector leading the charge and and they can call any Minister of Government or public official to testify.
Among their proposed terms of reference, they seek "to determine what advice, policy or basis the Cabinet relied upon to establish the validity of the Agreement.
They also propose that the SPECIAL SELECT COMMITTEE have 6 members: one from the government side and one from the opposition side, plus the four social partner senators.
Now, this is no small matter; it is a very credible query of governance practices, and the impact of a senate Inquiry 2.5 years into a new government cannot be overstated; if only optically, it is huge.
NGO Senator Janelle Chanona today gave a collective statement, quote:
"The Social Partners met exclusively as independent Senators and jointly formulated a motion to move at the next meeting of the Senate. This afternoon we simultaneously shared with both sides of the political aisle and have asked for their support on the proposed motion."
And we should note that with four special partner senators and 3 opposition senators int he chamber, they have the majority over the six PUP Senators - assuming the president cannot use a casting vote. So, will the government just concede? Will it try and somehow block it in the Senate, or will it say "no money noh deh"? It is unclear at this time what the response will be - but hopefully we can get some answers from the Prime Minister at tomorrow's House meeting.
