HGP Nightly News -Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir has renewed her criticism of the decision that prevented her appointment to parliamentary sectoral committees, arguing that claims about maintaining proportional representation are being used to mask the true reasons behind the move.
In a video statement released on Monday, Walton-Desir rejected assertions that her inclusion on a committee would have altered the balance of representation in the National Assembly.
“Nobody asked to disturb the balance of proportionality. Nobody asked for a new seat. Nobody asked for the formula to be changed,” she stated.
According to Walton-Desir, the proposal advanced by APNU and WIN merely sought to have her occupy one of the opposition’s existing committee positions.
“The numbers never changed, only the person did,” she argued.
The parliamentarian contended that repeated references to proportionality have distracted from the central issue at the heart of the dispute.
“When you hear them say proportionality, what they’re really saying is that we have an objection, but we cannot name that objection,” Walton-Desir declared.
She further questioned whether parliamentary rules were being applied consistently, noting that smaller parties have been accommodated in previous parliamentary arrangements.
“If proportionality is your sacred governance principle, if it is the thing that you’re willing to go to the mat for, then you should be willing to apply it where it matters most,” she said.
Walton-Desir also took direct aim at comments made by Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, who had suggested that she may have been “set up” through the nomination process.
Rejecting that suggestion, she insisted that her nomination complied with parliamentary procedures.
“If no rule was broken, there couldn’t be a set up,” she said.
The FGM leader maintained that neither the Speaker nor government representatives have identified any rule that was violated by her nomination.
She also expressed concern about remarks which she interpreted as warnings to parliamentarians who challenge decisions of the Chair.
“That is not a procedural reminder. That is a threat,” Walton-Desir asserted.
According to her, such comments risk undermining confidence in parliamentary processes and could discourage elected representatives from questioning decisions they believe are unfair.
The dispute over committee appointments has become one of the first major parliamentary controversies involving Walton-Desir since her entry into the National Assembly under the FGM banner.
Framing the issue as a broader matter of accountability and democratic governance, Walton-Desir said opposition members have a responsibility to challenge narratives they believe are inaccurate or misleading.
“The only thing required for evil to prevail is for good men to do or say nothing,” she declared.
She also dismissed the notion that public officials should be insulated from criticism because of their years of service.
“Longevity and long service is not a substitute for accountability,” Walton-Desir stated.
The MP signalled that she has no intention of letting the matter fade, indicating that she will continue raising the issue both inside and outside Parliament as she presses for what she describes as greater transparency, fairness and respect for democratic representation.
