The Office of the President notes that a media release issued yesterday September 25, 2021 by the United National Congress states inter alia:
“It is alarming that today’s media release from the President’s House states that “there is a notification which is with Parliament at this time”. This is categorically not true. There is no notification with Parliament. In any event, the law provides that before any notification is sent to Parliament, Her Excellency is obligated under law to first consult with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. To date, no such consultation has taken place with me as Leader of the Opposition. Her Excellency appears to be once again falling into legal error.”
The Office of the President stands by and reiterates its position that a notification is with Parliament at this time. Her Excellency issued a notification dated June 10, 2020 in respect of Mr. Vincel Edwards as a nominee for Member of the Police Service Commission in compliance with Section 122 (4). It was sent to Parliament by the Secretary to the President on the same day June 10, 2020 for debate by the House of Representatives.
Moreover, the notification was sent to Parliament only after consultation, by letter of June 5, 2020, with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition as stipulated by the Constitution.
It is our understanding that the Leader of Government Business having given a directive during the last sitting of Parliament that the notification be placed on the Order Paper for the next sitting, the notification is currently with the Clerk of the House for placing on the Order Paper.