Highly critical of OBA plans to make legislation applicable only to Government MPsBy Ayo JohnsonIndependent MP Terry Lister has lambasted Government for its announcement in the House of Assembly of a drug testing policy for Government MPs only.Mr Lister told The Royal Gazette that Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley’s announcement in the House about the policy amounted to a “nonsense”.“I believe that all MPs should be drug tested and have been willing to be drug tested for many years,” he said.“However, I have privately spoken with MPs from both Parties over the years and told them that properly drafted legislation should be placed before the House for consideration and voted upon. Such legislation should apply to all members of the House if passed.”He added: “I am very disappointed to see the Government suggest that legislation would be presented to the House that applies only to the Government members.“This legislation cannot go forward. All legislation must apply to all members. Legislation can not be brought that has the leader of the OBA disciplining Ministers and the OBA Disciplinary Committee dealing with backbenchers.“Carrying this to its logical end it implies that the OBA Disciplinary Committee would deal with PLP MPs and myself! This is a nonsense.“Instead the Speaker of the House should deal with any disciplinary matters relating to Members of the House.“I am disappointed that after eight months the OBA, having considered the matter, would bring forward a policy that should be within the OBA caucus.“I am strongly against this moving forward and ask the OBA government to withdraw this foolish idea and replace it with a motion to be tabled in the House relating to all Members. This motion can be debated and legislation follow the motion.”In an update to the House on Friday, Mr Dunkley said a promised policy that all Government MPs would be subject to random drug testing had been approved by Cabinet, reviewed by the One Bermuda Alliance caucus and would shortly be made public. His statement made no mention of legislation.But Mr Lister said: “You cannot bring policy to the House. The right thing to do is to bring a motion relating to every member of parliament.“Cabinet cannot approve a policy for the OBA members of parliament. That is the place for the OBA caucus. Cabinet has nothing to do with that. So either way you look at it, he’s got it wrong.“This is group think for seven months and is indicative of just how on the ball is this government? I’m having my doubts. You really have to wonder about the collective thought process of this government.”And he questioned what would happen if he signs on to the policy as an independent MP and he breached the policy. “Am I going to be in front of the OBA disciplinary committee?”Mr Dunkley did not reply to a request for comment by presstime last night.