The temperature shot up in the parliament chamber shortly before 4 pm yesterday, after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar got up to move a motion of privilege against Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley for alleged breaches in his presentation of a no-confidence motion against Finance and the Economy Minister Larry Howai earlier, at yesterday’s sitting of the House of Representatives.
Howai had just concluded his response to Rowley’s motion, which alleged that he (Howai) was involved in insider trading in the purchase of Trinidad Cement Limited shares some 13 years ago. (See page A6)
Howai denied Rowley’s claim and said it was a “fraud” and criminal. It was Howai who first hinted at moves by the Government to have Rowley referred to the Committee of Privileges for censure.
Speaker Wade Mark then advised the Parliament that he had received communication from Persad-Bissessar and he had granted leave for the motion to be moved. Mark said it was being done under Standing Order 32.
To the shock of MPs on the Opposition benches, Persad-Bissessar then got up, saying the matter was “directly concerned with the privileges of this House.”
She said the matter dealt with statements made by Rowley, “who made damaging, unsubstantiated, malicious and reckless allegations which have been thoroughly disputed and dismissed by the Minister of Finance and the Economy.”
At that point, tempers and voices in the Parliament rose.
Chief Whip Marlene McDonald got up seeking to get the Speaker’s attention.
“Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker,” she said, as Rowley simultaneously shouted from his seat, “What is going on here? There is a debate here, there is a debate here.”
That point was echoed by McDonald.
“This cannot happen,” McDonald said.
Imbert then shouted across the floor to Persad-Bissessar, “Sit down!”
Persad-Bissessar hit back, saying, “Read your standing orders, read your standing orders.”
She was supported by government MPs who shouted to the Opposition, “Walk out!”
Mark then attempted to regain control of the proceedings.
In response to opposition MPs insisting that a motion against Howai was still in progress and the PM should not be allowed to move her motion of privilege at that time, Mark said he was aware of that but noted that he was being guided in his decision by the Standing Orders.
The Standing Order says “a matter concerning the privilege of the House shall take precedence over all other business.”
As opposition MPs continued to object in their seats, Mark said he could not deny an MP the right to move the motion and he was allowing it to be raised.
McDonald was not impressed and continued with her protest. She said to the Speaker, “This is an ongoing debate, Mr Speaker. This is ongoing, it is not complete, Mr Speaker, and therefore something like this, Mr Speaker, should not arise at this point.”
She added, “This is certainly an abuse. This cannot happen. So where is our Parliament going?”
Speaker gives in
Rowley joined in support.
He said, “Mr Speaker with all due respect to this Parliament, this is a debate that is ongoing. The member (PM) is attempting to make a finding on the motion (against Howai)... I am asking you to intervene. I ask you to protect the House, Mr Speaker.”
But Mark referred MPs to 32:5 of the Standing Orders again, which says: “If during a sitting of the House a matter suddenly arises which appears to involve the privileges of the House and which calls for the immediate intervention of the House, the proceedings may be interrupted except during the progress of a division by a motion based on such matter.”
Mark said, “A matter has arisen and I have given the member permission to raise the matter.”
He then called on Persad-Bissessar to resume.
Before the PM could resume, Mark had to remind McDonald that he had ruled on the matter.
But McDonald then asked the Speaker who was to determine that a matter which suddenly arose should be given precedence over the motion being debated.
“On whose judgment, Mr Speaker? You have not heard the other side Mr Speaker,” the Chief Whip added.
Mark then advised that the matter should proceed as he had ruled, but almost instantly McDonald objected, “No Mr Speaker, I am saying this is an abuse, [the original debate] is ongoing and I have to support Diego Martin West. We have not concluded the debate.”
MPs on both sides then started to shout again, causing the Speaker to get to his feet once more.
“May I ask the Prime Minister to hold her fire. I’ll have further consultations with the clerk on this matter.”
He then called on Opposition MP Colm Imbert to begin his contribution on the motion of no confidence brought by Rowley against Howai.
Minutes later, House Leader Dr Roodal Moonilal and Persad-Bissessar were seen having separate discussions with the Speaker. Persad-Bissessar then left the chamber.
PM’s privileges motion
Shortly before the sitting adjourned, Persad-Bissessar made her statement seeking to have Rowley referred to the Privileges Committee.
She said Rowley, in presenting his no-confidence motion against Howai earlier, “made damaging, unsubstantiated, malicious and reckless allegations which have been firmly disputed and dismissed by the Minister of Finance and the Economy.”
She said Rowley’s statement “was an abuse of the freedom of speech and a most fundamental breach of parliamentary privilege.”
According to Persad-Bissessar, Rowley had “committed a contempt of this House.”
She listed the grounds for her claim:
• Rowley was reckless in his responsibilities in providing accurate information to the House
• Rowley read from a prepared statement, which was an unsigned document
• Rowley knew or ought to have known that the statement he was reading was false, inaccurate and damaging
She added that Rowley’s statement was “frivolous, vexatious, with no basis, no purpose, it is empty, it is vacuous, it is tenuous and it is absurd,” echoing words similar to those used by Opposition MP Colm Imbert in describing government’s recent no-confidence motion in Rowley.
She said Rowley should be referred to the Privileges Committee on those grounds.
Mark said he would rule on the matter “in the coming days.”