Speaker defends conduct in parlt

By HELEN TARAWA
SPEAKER Job Pomat says his control of debate and conduct in Paliament on Tuesday was fair and according to the rules.
He also said there was no provision in the Constitution to remove the speaker of parliament, as the 50 MPs on the Opposition bench had attempted to do.
They moved a motion to have Pomat removed claiming that he was biased in his decisions.
Pomat said he used his discretion to allow the motion through and a vote to be taken on it.
He said it proved that the democratic process was alive and that he was not taking sides in his position as the deputy leader of the People’s National Congress party.
He said there was no conflict of interest.
“I do not have anything against the opposition. We were just following the process,” Pomat said
“If the MPs do not want me to be the speaker, I have no right to continue. But there is no provision in the constitution to remove the speaker.
He said there were provisions in the constitutions to remove the prime minister, chief justice and governor-general, but not the speaker.
Pomat said he would have been happy to be removed if there was a provision. He also explained that the process on a vote of no confidence motion started with the private business committee before it is put on the notice paper.
The minimum requirement is seven days on the notice paper.
“As long as it is seven days on the notice paper, it can be moved any time after that as per the standing orders,” he said.
He said the 18-month grace period had expired last February.
“And it’s not one year before new elections. So the motion can be moved at any time as long as the mandatory seven-day requirement is met on the notice,” Pomat said.