And Senator Hulse also had a few choice words for his former colleagues at the Chamber of Commerce. He rose to national prominence as a senator for the business community – and he was a former president. But now the chamber is saying the same thing as the opposition: that the Senate Select Committee is bogus. And the chamber says that if they can’t get it re-constituted, they’re going on a one-day national business shutdown. The Chamber will meet tomorrow to decide on that but Hulse says that they too have it all wrong:…
Hon. Godwin Hulse - Leader of Government Business in Senate
"I am appalled and surprised at the chamber. This august body on which I serve for many years and held together with some esteemed colleagues to bring it back to an institution of prominence from its dilapidated state in 1994. I was its president and past president; in 2005 and 2007 we went on the streets. The chamber championed motions for good governance and transparency but specifically to get the finance and audit act, to get these same constitutional provisions that now give rise to a Senate investigation. What we wanted at that time was to make sure that all money bills etc. was brought to the national assembly as it was not fully the practice of the government of the day. We didn't try to steer the vote; we wanted it to be presented so the people could hear it. Now we have a situation where the chamber did not put forward a motion, they did not put forward a motion. A motion was put forward by the leader of the opposition, Senator Courtenay and a motion was put forward by Senator Rocke. The chamber did not second the motion of Senator Courtenay that was seconded by I think Senator Woods or Senator Thompson I don't quite remember. So there was no Senate motion that was put forward to be refused or rejected. In fact my understanding is that during the discussion with the prime minister the chamber was given an opportunity to put forward a motion and I think the prime minister waited for them to come forward with it but they did not come forward with any."
Reporter
"Would it be a concern if the chamber would go on a national shut down even if it's just for one day?"
Hon. Godwin Hulse - Leader of Government Business in Senate
"For me absolutely not."
Jules Vasquez
"Is the government exercised about this issue? Is it something that which is to forestall as it seeking a dialogue with the chamber your former good friends?"
Hon. Godwin Hulse - Leader of Government Business in Senate
"I don't know it was discussed in Cabinet today but let us get the facts straight you know. You cannot open back, there is nowhere in the civilized world where you open back, bring back a motion the same motion that just passed. The motion was to appoint a Senate committee, isn't that what they wanted? My say to this, my take to this is tomorrow at 10 o'clock the committee will be constituted. The chamber should get there, should vote for its president or chairman of the committee and get on with the investigations which will be public, which everybody will hear and let everybody be questioned and asked etc. get on with it and stop wasting the nation's time."
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