In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, the Leader of the Opposition said he would refuse to ask a Private Notice Question (PNQ) during today’s parliamentary proceedings. He denounced “the Prime Minister’s attitude this morning, outrageously tolerated by the Speaker of the National Assembly!” According to Xavier Duval, the PM has taken up Parliament’s time by reading the contents of a report that is already in the public domain!
Here’s his statement:
“I strongly protest the Prime Minister’s attitude this morning, during the Private Notice Question (PNQ), outrageously tolerated by the Speaker of the National Assembly!
To mark my position, I will refuse to ask a PNQ tomorrow under such conditions.
The Prime Minister and ministers are accountable to Parliament for everything they do.
This is a sacrosanct principle of democracy. To accept anything less would be a descent into hell!
It is not acceptable to waste Parliament’s time reading the contents of a report that is already in the public domain!
As a result, I won’t be asking for a PNQ tomorrow, because I can’t afford to be complicit in this race to the bottom.
I strongly object to this situation, and hope with all my heart that everyone will get their act together! ”
On Tuesday afternoon, opposition leader Xavier-Luc Duval returned to his NQP. He pointed out that the 2023/2024 budget made no mention of any new development in the port. “It’s as if the port didn’t exist. The real danger now is that the port will lose its status as a regional hub. If that happens, its container transshipment may disappear. And that will have a detrimental effect on the economy.”
