As he made his way to Tuesday’s House of Assembly sitting, House Speaker Andy Daniel disclosed to reporters that Attorney Martinus Francois, who has filed a constitutional motion over Parliament’s failure to appoint a Deputy Speaker, has still not served the House Speaker as he swore to do some weeks ago.
On July 25, the case was adjourned to October 31, after it was ruled that Francois had inappropriately served papers on the Speaker’s secretary. Speaker Andy Daniel reiterated his position on the matter this week, that it is up to parliamentarians on both sides of the House to appoint his deputy.
Well over a month since the court’s ruling, the Speaker still has not been served. Has Francois, like opposition leader Philip J. Pierre before him, thrown in the towel? Francois assures that this is not the case. On Wednesday he told the STAR he was simply taking time to further strengthen his case. Also, he pointed out, the court was on vacation. “I have ample time to serve the Speaker,” he said this week, “and serve him I will! Our constitution is only a piece of paper; it does not defend itself. It needs the citizens to defend it. If the citizens don’t defend it, it will be trampled upon by the politicians. They love to do that. If we don’t, who will? Someone from Mars? If it’s the last thing I do, I will make sure, trust me, that this matter comes to a head!”
