NDC M.P’s Face Suspension from Parliament

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lawrence Joseph has issued a strong warning to elected Members of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that they could be suspended from Parliament for not giving information on the status of their citizenship.

GRENADA TODAY has managed to obtain the copy of a letter along with a questionnaire which the Speaker wrote on Monday to members of the elected house seeking information from them on their status.

The issue arose from a government move to try and have barrister-at-law Peter David of NDC and M.P for the town of St. George barred from Parliament on the grounds that he holds Canadian citizenship.

The Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) government has announced plans to take the matter to court in order to have its defeated candidate in the November 2000 general elections, Tourism Minister Brenda hood declared as the winner of the seat.

The Congress party is maintaining that the law courts and not parliament are the ones charged with the constitutional responsibility to determine the citizenship of anyone in the country.

Following is the full text of the letter from the House Speaker:

Houses of Parliament
P.O. Box 315
Church Street, St. George's
Grenada, West Indies

Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives

December 12, 2005


Dear Hon. Member:

I write to you in my capacity as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

You will recall that on Friday 9th December last, at its sitting at the Trade Centre, Morne Rouge, St. George's the House of Representatives passed a resolution authorizing me as Speaker to make enquires as to every Member of the House, with the exception of those members who voluntarily gave the appropriate information to the House at that Sitting, whether any Member on Nomination Day last (being 5th November 2003), prior to the last General Elections, was the holder of citizenship other than that of Grenada, or whether after the said Nomination day, any Member acquired citizenship of a country or countries other than that of Grenada.

It was further resolved that the Speaker was requested to report back to the House about the findings of the enquiries at the next sitting of the House or the soonest practicable time thereafter as established by the Speaker, if necessary.

In accordance with the said Resolution therefore, I herein submit the enclosed questionnaire for the purpose of obtaining information from Members of the House of Representatives, pertaining to citizenship status on and after Nomination Day which was 5th November, 2003.

The questionnaire has been sent to you as you are one of the members who did not voluntarily give the appropriate information to the House at the said sitting.

This questionnaire must be answered by you in accordance with the questions being asked and be returned to the Speaker, Office of the House of Parliament, Botanical Gardens, Tanteen, St. George's no later than 31st December, 2005.

It is expected that Members will comply with the decision and order of the House of Representatives, as that Resolution which was passed by the House on Friday 9th December 2005, is binding on all members. It will be a contempt of parliament if there is non-compliance.

Members are reminded that options which are available to Parliament for non-compliance with its decisions may be found in "Erskine May's Parliamentary Practice" which practices and procedures are authorised by standing Order No. 82 of the House of Representatives. Options include suspension from the House.

Additionally, the house may be minded to seek the assistance of the Governor-General to appoint a one-man Commissioner to make the necessary inquiries for the public welfare in accordance with the Commission of Inquiry Act Chapter 58, of the Revised laws of Grenada.

If this option is chosen, then a Commissioner shall have the same powers as the High Court to summon witnesses and to call for the production of documents.

Witnesses will then be subjected to penalties under Section 11 and 12 of the said Act, for non-cooperation or for making false statements to the Commissioner.

You are asked therefore to use your good judgment in this matter.

Hon. Lawrence A. Joseph,
Speaker of the House of Representatives