ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The main opposition, the New National Party (NNP), says its legislators are being blocked from effectively participating in the Finance Committee of Parliament meetings.
“Opposition MPs have been forced to miss a crucial sitting of the Finance Committee of Parliament that was belatedly rescheduled for today and with the consequent late serving of their required documents,” the NNP said.
It said the five opposition members will not be part of the Finance Committee meeting, which the Government will use to explain and justify the allocation of funds for the 2024 Estimate of Revenue and Expenditure.
“The government side has insisted on the rescheduled date despite being informed that members, including the opposition leader, will not be available on that date,” the NNP added.
The party said the initially scheduled date for the Finance Committee meeting was November 17. Still, it was reportedly brought forward to facilitate the travel schedule of multiple government members, including Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell.
It said that Deputy Speaker Clarice Modeste, who is the focal point for communications between the Opposition and Government, wrote two letters to Phillip Telesford, the Leader of Government Business, explaining that the opposition was unprepared to engage in the meeting because there were no documents provided on time.
“Telesford had informed members last week that the meeting was being brought forward, and while an agenda was presented in the notice, there were no documents for MPs to prepare for the meeting.
The Opposition members say that they are prepared to discuss a convenient date with the Government on which both sides are available “to conduct this crucial meeting in preparation for the 2024 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.”
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