WHILE the Opposition's motion to have President Paula-Mae Weekes removed from office is historic, the tribunal needed to adjudicate on that will never meet since the motion will need Government's support.

According to the Constitution, when the motion reaches the Electoral College, which is made up of all MPs and senators, the Opposition will need 23 additional votes to carry the process further.

In accordance with section 36(1)(c) of the Constitution, the motion will only be carried to the tribunal, headed by the Chief Justice, if there is a two-thirds vote.

The Electoral College totals 72 members. The Opposition commands 25 while the Government has 38, the remaining nine are Independent senators appointed by the President. The two-thirds mandate equates to 48 votes, which means the Opposition will have to get the support of 23 others in order for the tribunal to be convened.

[caption id="attachment_919990" align="alignnone" width="824"] President Paula-Mae Weekes. -[/caption]

There will be no debate on the motion.

Before it reaches the Electoral College, the motion needs one-third of the House of Representatives which is 14 members. The Opposition has 19.

According to the guidelines for the proceedings Thursday, the motion will be read in full without amendments. After that is done the 19 Opposition MPs who signed the motion will have to confirm their support then the House will be adjourned and the Electoral College convened.

UNC: SPEAKER WRONG

Speaking with Newsday on Wednesday, UNC PRO Dr Kirk Meighoo said Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has asked that the whip be removed so that there will be a conscience vote and not one along political partisan.

“It's important for the debate to occur, and for all the issues to be aired in the Parliament. If the whip is lifted and people have a conscience vote then the possibility still exists.”

Told that the numbers are not favourable for the Opposition to allow the motion to pass, Meighoo agreed that the “numbers would suggest that.”

He added: “We will have to deal with that, but the Speaker has no right to prevent debate on any motion. She has no authority to do that whatsoever. And this is something that the party is dealing with. The Electoral College is not supposed to vote on a motion. That’s another issue as well.”

He added that the UNC will challenge the Speaker on these issues.

[caption id="attachment_919991" align="alignnone" width="1004"] UNC public relations officer Dr Kirk Meighoo. -[/caption]

Newsday also spoke with Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis who said she did not receive any request to lift the whip to allow for conscience voting. She emphasised that there will be no debate on the motion.

“I have said it more than once that Mrs Persad-Bissessar does not know parliamentary procedure. It is clear again that she is demonstrating that she does not understand procedure.”

She added that the threshold is high to avoid “sending any kind of nonsense” to the Chief Justice.

Asked if the Government