Public holidays committee approved PPP/Civic lone supporter Stabroek News August 7, 2000 The Government is standing alone in reviewing public holidays under the Public Holidays Act, Chapter 19:07. A motion establishing a Special Select Committee of Parliament was approved on Thursday but the opposition People's National Congress (PNC) rejected it and the Alliance for Guyana and The United Force abstained. At the sitting, House Leader Reepu Daman Persaud stated that President Bharrat Jagdeo "mandated me as Parliamentary Affairs Minister to set up a special committee of the National Assembly to examine the calendar of National Holidays with a view to incorporating Independence Day, May 26, and Indian... Immigration Day May 5 in the national holiday structure." Persaud said that the committee is expected to consult with various interest groups such as religious bodies, labour organisations and the private sector, after which it will submit its list of recommendations to the National Assembly for consideration. However, PNC Leader Desmond Hoyte told the House that the President of Guyana, "has no authority in this National Assembly and no constitutional power to mandate anybody to set up a Committee to this effect. That is a constitutional position", Hoyte stated. He expressed "alarm" to hear that Persaud, a longstanding member of Parliament spanning three decades, who understands the Constitution and its requirements, should attempt to table the public holidays consideration motion under the circumstances he did. "I do not think this administration is serious" Hoyte continued, and lambasted the Government for not prioritising issues of national concern. "We have serious crises in this country" said Hoyte, and poured out a litany of these: widespread flood devastation, bringing in their wake water-borne and other diseases; an alarming HIV/AIDS epidemic; a high rate of unemployment, spawning homelessness and street families; escalating violent crimes; "critical" territorial issues, as well as economic problems in some sectors. "And, the Government comes here Mr. Speaker, not to debate any of these issues, but to ask us to deal with holidays. This is trivialising the functions of this Honourable House", declared Hoyte, adding that his party was not going to be a part of the process and if the Government wants, it can set up its own Committee "and institute all the holidays they want to, but don't involve the People's National Congress in trivial matters." Maintaining his stance on the motion as "simple and straightforward", Persaud in response said, "this motion doesn't at all inhibit action in any other area of the country." He insisted that nothing is wrong with "the President mandating a Minister of the Government and no particular reason in this instance, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs." He indicated that recognition should be given to the fact that although Jagdeo has given him the responsibility, he had done the "proper thing" by coming to the House for approval. Persaud went on to say that the President plays a role in the Parliament of the country. "In fact Mr. Speaker, the President is a Member of Parliament" and he proceeded to quote Article 51 of the Constitution which states that "there shall be a Parliament of Guyana which shall consist of the President and the National Assembly". Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today