Here’s the sequence of events that took place in Parliament on Friday night that caused a shouting match:
Around 9.30 p.m., Parliament was examining the supplementary budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs when Opposition MP Stuart Young raised concerns over a $13.7 million allocation for the residence of the Permanent Representative in New York.
Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers explained the expenditure, noting that the building was unfit for use and that rent was being paid for another property.
Young responded that every T&T embassy around the world had similar requests and questioned the prioritisation of the project. A shouting match ensued between Young and Sobers, with the minister accusing the former government of allowing embassies to deteriorate over the past ten years.
House Speaker Jagdeo Singh interjected and attempted to restore order.
Leader of Government Business Barry Padarath then said, “Mr chairman may I draw to your attention and this is not the first time this has happened, the technicians who are operating the audio systems of the Parliament cannot determine who they want to listen to and therefore I am seeking your direct intervention because this is not the first time.”
Young immediately responded: “My mic was being turned off, too!”
Padarath continued: “The bias approach by the staff and the technicians to mute while we speak and sometimes the audio while it is being played on the Parliament channel will not be tolerated and therefore we ask from now I am signalling that there be a meeting of the Broadcasting Committee to treat with these matters.”
Singh said a meeting of the Broadcasting Committee would be convened and that there was a way to obtain empirical evidence and data. He urged members not to be sidetracked.
There was immediate uproar from the Opposition benches, with Laventille West MP Kareem Marcelle shouting, “This Government is a bunch of dictators!” and, “This is tyranny in this Parliament!” He also yelled, “They trying to bully the staff! What is wrong with allyuh!”
Padarath shouted that they would not tolerate such conduct, but his microphone was muted when he attempted to speak.
Marcelle then shouted: “This is a free and democratic society, what the hell is wrong with this Government!”
He further yelled at Singh: “You have not come to the defence of your own staff!” while Young shouted: “Call the police for him!”
Shame!
Singh said he had not seen anything and enquired from the Clerk of the House, who was heard saying that Padarath had gone to the technician and spoken to him.
Opposition members then shouted that Padarath had taken a photograph of the technician.
Singh said if there was an allegation, it could be dealt with, but urged members to continue with the business before the House.
The clerk was then heard saying: “Mr chair, as the chairman you can also address the matter and say that no staff is to be approached by anyone.”
Singh asked all members to exercise a great deal of restraint when dealing with parliamentary staff, noting that they generally went beyond the call of duty.
Opposition MP Keith Scotland then shouted about the injustice taking place, prompting Singh to order him to be quiet while assuring members that the matter would be dealt with through the proper procedures.
Young then said: “Mr chair, the member for Couva South got up and went and took a photograph of the technician.”
Government minister Michelle Benjamin was heard responding: “And so what?”
The minister said she was a member of the Broadcasting Committee and had previously raised concerns about Government microphones being muted.
She said she and Government Minister Khadijah Ameen had raised the issue before.
Opposition members responded with shouts of: “Shame!”
The Speaker then suspended the House for ten minutes.
When proceedings resumed, Opposition Chief Whip Marvin Gonzales asked whether the Speaker intended to address what had transpired, alleging that Padarath had been seen taking a photograph of a staff member and “attacking” the person in an intimidating manner.
Singh replied that he had no such evidence because he did not witness the incident. He said if someone else had seen the alleged conduct, it could be dealt with through another process.
Young then asked whether there would be an investigation into the matter brought to the Speaker’s attention.
Singh responded by asking what standing order he could use to unilaterally commence an investigation.
Young further questioned whether parliamentary staff would be afforded protection from members of Parliament who intimidate or assault them, insisting the matter was fundamentally wrong.
He pressed again on whether an investigation would be conducted into the alleged intimidation and potential assault of a parliamentary staff member.
Singh replied that it was hyperbolic to describe the incident as an assault.
Young responded that the definition of assault includes circumstances where a person believes there is a threat against him or her.
Singh said he was not going to get into the nuances of criminal law, and again urged the committee to continue its work. He reiterated that anyone wishing to make a complaint could do so through other channels.
Appropriate forum
Government Minister Saddam Hosein then said the Government wished to place on the record that it completely rejected the Opposition’s allegations of intimidation against any member of staff.
Hosein said Padarath had raised concerns about the muting of microphones on several occasions, noting it had occurred while the Government was in opposition and had continued after it assumed office.
He said Padarath had every right to raise the issue in order to protect the integrity of the parliamentary process, and added that if the Opposition felt aggrieved, there were avenues available to pursue the matter.
Young replied that the Opposition was not raising concerns about the microphones but about Padarath’s conduct.
Singh responded that the committee was not the appropriate forum to address such a complaint and that any member who felt aggrieved by another member’s conduct could seek recourse under the standing orders.
