Govt motion against Rowley Wednesday

Government’s no-confidence motion against Opposition Leader Keith Rowley being debated in Parliament next week accuses Rowley of “reckless conduct which has given rise to serious concerns in the public domain about his judgment and the exercise of his discretion.”
The motion will be piloted by PP House Leader Roodal Moonilal at 1.30 pm next Wednesday. It appeared on the parliament’s agenda for the first time yesterday.
At Tuesday’s PNM meeting PNM labour officer Jennifer Baptiste Primus said the motion would be debated next week. Government subsequently indicated it would be done next Monday. Yesterday TG was told that was an initial date, and the debate is actually next Wednesday.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar recently said Government would file the motion on the basis of Rowley’s failure to declare that Police Complaints Authority director David West was his witness in a court matter brought against him by former attorney general Anand Ramlogan.
The motion states that Rowley had a duty to exercise the power conferred on him under Section 6(1) of the PCA Act Chap 15:05 to nominate a PCA director impartially, free from bias and in accordance with the code of conduct laid out in the Integrity in Public Life Act.
It stated that there was a real possibility that Rowley was biased when he exercised his power under Section 6(1) of the PCA Act.
It also noted that, in making the nomination, he abused his office or could be perceived as abusing it by failing to comply with the code of conduct in the Integrity law. The motion also stated that by this conduct and “other reckless acts” he had brought the office of the Opposition Leader and the Parliament “into disrepute and public odium.”
 “Be it resolved this honourable House censure and condemn the Opposition Leader and also express its lack of confidence in Dr Keith Rowley as the Opposition leader and MP for Diego Martin West,” the motion stated.
The PM has called for Rowley to remove the “whip” from MPs and allow them a conscience vote for the occasion. Most—contacted recently—said they would support Rowley.
PNM Laventille West MP Nileung Hypolite, who was rejected by the PNM’s screening team for that seat, was asked by reporters yesterday about his party loyalty. He replied he had been a PNM member since 1988 and “I support the PNM.”
He said a screening process was done and a decision made and he “would want to hope it was fair.”
Maintaining he was the best person for the job, Hypolite said he hoped those taking his place would do the kind of work he would have done. PNM sources said during the screening Hypolite was accused of poor performance including his contributions in Parliament. 
On Thursday, PNM officials said a number of supporters would be at the Parliament to support Rowley in the debate.
Rowley was absent from yesterday’s parliament session as were PNM MPs Donna Cox and Patrick Manning. The latter says he’s “seriously considering” attending the no-confidence debate.
The ten PNM MPs present in Parliament yesterday headed by PNM whip Marlene McDonald voted with the Government for passage of the Bail Amendment Bill which required a special majority vote.