PRIME MINISTER Kamla Persad- Bissessar has defended Leader of Government Business Barry Padarath, insisting there has been biased behaviour by some parliamentary staff against the Government.
‘The biased behaviour of Parliament staff has always been an issue but under the current management in both Houses it is the worst I have seen since I have been there. Some of the Parliament staff operate like a PNM party group inside there. A total disgrace,’ she said in response to questions from the Sunday Express yesterday.
Asked whether she planned to take any action, Persad-Bissessar said the United National Congress (UNC) would raise its concerns with Parliament’s Broadcasting Committee.
‘I believe next week the broadcast committee is meeting so the UNC will raise our concerns. There are other issues that we plan to bring to the attention of the public regarding the disgustingly biased behaviour of some staff members,’ she said.
According to the Prime Minister, the bias had been occurring since the UNC was in Opposition and she claimed there had been numerous instances where the microphones of Opposition speakers, including herself, were muted.
Parliament’s Broadcasting Committee comprises House Speaker Jagdeo Singh (chairman), Senate President Wade Mark (vice-chairman), Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen, Minister of Culture and Community Development Michelle Benjamin, Opposition MP Hans Des Vignes, Government Senator Brian Baig, Independent Senator Francis Lewis, and Opposition Senator Foster Cummings.
