CUMUTO/Manzanilla MP Dr Rai Ragbir has questioned the UNC's strategy for debating a motion to extend the state of emergency (SoE) in Parliament on January 13.
The SoE was declared on December 30, last year in an attempt to suppress gang violence which threatened to disrupt public safety.
At a news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, Central Administrative Services in Tobago on January 3, the Prime Minister said the government will follow the law as it pertains to the declaration of the SoE.
"We have 15 days in which to go to the Parliament because we still remain a country under law."
He added that if the Parliament is not convinced about the merits of the SoE, it will end.
President Christine Kangaloo issued the proclamation to declare the SoE on December 30.
Section 9 (2) of the Constitution allows the SoE to remain in effect for 15 days without parliamentary approval.
Section 9 (1) of the Constitution states that within three days of making the proclamation to declare the SoE, the President must send a statement to the Speaker, outlining the specific grounds on which the decision to declare the SoE was based.
A date will be fixed for this statement to be debated by the House, no later than 15 days after the SoE was declared.
This means the House should sit no later than January 14 to debate this matter.
The January 13 sitting, means this requirement has been met.
The order paper shows a motion in Dr Rowley's name which asks the House to approve an extension to the SoE for a further three months.
By simple majority vote, in accordance with Section 10 of the Constitution, the House can extend the SoE by a period of three months.
Any extension beyond three months requires a three-fifths majority vote in the House and Senate.
The President's statement which details the specific reasons for the declaration of the SoE will be laid in the House on January 13.
On January 3, Rowley said he hoped the SoE would lead to a suppression of the levels of violent crime, especially involving the use of guns.
Rowley supported statements made by acting Attorney General Stuart Young and National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds at a news conference on December 30, that the SoE was called to deal with intelligence from the police about reprisal killings by gangs on a large scale, using illegal high-powered guns.
In a statement on January 11, Ragbir asked if the UNC, as the government-in-waiting, had a position on the SoE.
He was unaware of the UNC's parliamentary caucus meeting to strategise for the debate.
"Have the five so-called dissenters be informed of the party's position?"
This is a reference to UNC MPs Rushton Paray, Anita Haynes-Alleyne, Dinesh Rambally, Rodney Charles and Ragbir who have publicly questioned Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar's ability to lead the party to victory in this year's general election.
Ragbir asked if the UNC's position on the SoE would only be known "when a division is called at the last moment."
He said this is unacceptable for a
