House Speaker Wade Mark will rule today on ILP MP Jack Warner’s request for PP MP Vernella Alleyne-Toppin to face disciplinary action for her recent controversial statements on Opposition PNM leader Keith Rowley.
Alleyne-Toppin has faced criticism, including receiving limited and mixed support from some of her PP colleagues, after her March 25 remarks about Rowley during Parliament debate of Government’s motion of no confidence against him.
The debate continues today although the PNM walked out on the last two sessions.
Yesterday PNM PRO Faris Al-Rawi said the PNM would maintain its action if the Government “continues to abuse the Parliament.
“The people’s business is far more important and our position is on record and it’s fully exacerbated by the toxicity and vulgarity already introduced into debate,” he said.
There are two other motions on the agenda apart from the no-confidence motion. PP House leader Roodal Moonilal said last week he was uncertain what order the matters would be debated.
However, Mark’s ruling on Alleyne-Toppin is expected early in the session.
The core issue involves allegations she made at the March 25 start of debate when she alleged Rowley was a child of rape and also raised questions via further rape allegations, on his fathering a child.
Her action prompted the PNM to release a tape featuring Roselyn Alleyne who said she was not raped and Garth Alleyne who was said to be Rowley’s son.
In last week’s continuation of debate Alleyne-Toppin apologised for the “mischaracterisation deduced” from her statements, saying she had sought to highlight certain sensitive issues in the society which she considered relevant to debate.
Warner later called for her statements to be expunged from Parliament’s record. Mark said he would rule on Warner’s request at the next Parliament session—today.
Warner has said if his privileges request failed, “the court of public opinion will judge her and if the Speaker doesn’t approve my request he has only three more months for his term of office anyway.”