Opposition leader disappointed with passage of gun amnesty resolution in his absence

ST GEORGE’S (CMC):

Grenada’s Opposition Leader Dr Keith Mitchell has accused the government of purposefully debating and passing the gun amnesty resolution while he was unavoidably absent.

Speaking to the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on the sidelines of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Cricket Conference on Thursday – the same day the gun amnesty resolution was passed in the Lower House, Dr Mitchell said he believes the government deliberately schedules important sittings of the House of Representatives to clash with his personal appointments.

“It seems like, it appears that they do everything possible to ensure that, whenever I am scheduled to an activity outside of the country, or having to do something that I can’t avoid, that they schedule a meeting,” the former prime minister said.

He cited a previous occasion when a meeting of the finance committee of the parliament, of which he is a member, was held on the day that he had to attend a court outside of Grenada, despite his request to have the meeting rescheduled.

“It was well known that I had a court date that I had to meet, because it was announced publicly. They scheduled the finance committee on the date of my court date. So, one could interpret whatever they want from this. And we then ask through our representative to adjust it, the prime minister said he is not adjusting. So they went ahead without me, who would have added the level of experience in my years as minister of finance and, of course, prime minister for 23 years.”

Speaking about the passage of Thursday’s resolution in his absence, Mitchell said “certainly a gun legislation amnesty, something like this, you would want someone in my experience, and certainly it would be useful for them; and for the country for my presence. You may still pass the bill because you have the majority, but certainly you will give yourself and the country an opportunity to hear from someone like myself with all the years of experience.”

The senior Mitchell was also disappointed that he was absent for the passage of the Communication Bill through all its stages.

He said, however, the members of the Opposition met prior to Thursday’s sitting and agreed on areas they will focus on to bring attention to the Opposition’s concerns regarding the bill.